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A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://archive.org/details/southerngirlin61wrig 


MISS    LOUISE    WIGFALL 
(Mrs.  D.  Giiaud  Wright,  of  Baltimore) 

The  star  in  this  portrait  was  from  the  coat  collar  of  General  Johnston 
and  given  by  him  to  the  author 


A 

Southern  Girl  in  '61 


The    War-Time    Memories   of   a   Confederate 
Senator's   Daughter 

By 

Mrs.  D.  Giraud  Wright 


Illustrated  from  contemporary  portraits 


New  York 

Doubleday,  Page  &  Company 

1905 


The  Library 

The  University  of  North  CaroBna 

Chanel  Hill 


{ 


Copyright,  1905,  by 
Doubleday,  Page  &  Company 

Published,  September,  1905 


All  rights  reserved,  including  that 
of  translation  into  foreign  lan- 
guages, including  the  Scandinavian 


THIS    RECORD  IS  WRITTEN 

IN  LOVING   MEMORY 

OF 

TWO  CONFEDERATE  SOLDIERS 

9®V  jFat&er  and  $®v  Tdtot^zt 


oo 

Q 

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<0 


CONTENTS 

Chapter  I.     Childhood  in  Texas. 

The  Comet  of  1858 — Journey  by  Stage  Coach  from  Mar- 
shall to  Austin — A  Prairie  Fire — Fording  the  Brazos 
River  .........  -7 

Chapter  II.     From  Village  to  City  Life. 

The  Writer's  Home  in  Marshall — Anecdotes  of  Faithful 
Negroes — Removal  to  Washington — Meetings  with  Sen- 
ators Clay  and  Slidell  and  Their  Wives  and  Other  Nota- 
bles        .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  n 

Chapter  III.     The  Makers  of  History. 

John  C.  Breckenridge — Jefferson  Davis — Judah  P.  Ben- 
jamin— R.  M.  T.  Hunter — Louis  T.  Wigfall,  the  Writer's 
Father — A  Famous  Duel — Letters  to  and  from  Mrs.  Wig- 
fall  in  1 86 1 — The  Evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter      .         .  27 

Chapter  IV.     The     Feminine    Spirit    of    the 
Confederacy. 

Mrs.  Wigfall 's  Letters  from  Montgomery,  Alabama,  and 
from  Richmond — A  Rhode  Island  Correspondent — A 
HumorousTncident — The  Observations  of  a  Girl  of  Four- 
teen— Her  Journey  from  Boston  to  Baltimore      .         .         49 

Chapter  V.  Southern  Belles  and  Southern 
Soldiers. 

Letter  from  General  Beauregard — The  "Cary  Invinci- 
bles" — Turner  Ashby — William  Pegram — John  Pelham 
— William  Latane" — "The  Seven  Days'  Battle  Around 
Richmond"  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         71 


viii  CONTENTS— Continued 

Chapter  VI.     War  Time  Correspondence. 

Jefferson  Davis  Writes  to  L.  T.  Wigfall — Notes  from 
General  Longstreet  and  General  Lee — Home  Gossip — 
Prince  Polignac — Letters  from  General  Hood — From 
the  Author's  Brother  in  Camp  Near  Fredericksburg — 
From  General  Johnston — From  the  Author's  Father — 
From  J.  A.  Seddon 87 

Chapter  VII.   The  Winter  of  '62-63. 

Light-hearted  Boyish  Letters  from  Camp  —  Schoolgirl 
Frolics — A  Southern  Barbara  Frietchie— Chattanooga — 
Anecdote  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson — Family  Letters  to     4, 
and  from  Richmond       .         .         .         .         .         .         .       in 

Chapter  VIII.     The  Fortune  of  War. 

Social  Life  in  Richmond — Halsey  Wigfall's  Letters  from 
the  Front — Gettysburg — Letters  from  General  Hamp- 
ton— From  General  Stuart — From  General  Longstreet 
— A  Tournament — Humor  in  a  Hospital         .         .  135 

Chapter  IX.     Suffering  in  the  South. 

The  President  of  the  Confederacy — What  One  Woman 
Endured — High  Price  of  Food  and  Clothing — A  False 
Alarm — A  Proposal  to  Recruit  the  Army  of  the  Con- 
federacy with  Slaves      .         .         .         .         .         .         .159 

Chapter  X.     Lines  from  the  Losing  Side. 

From  Captain  Wigfall  on  General  Hood's  Staff — After 
the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness — The  Wounded  Arrive 
at  Charlottesville — Journey  from  Atlanta  to  Macon  in  a 
Hospital  Train — General  Johnston  Superseded  by  Gen- 
eral Hood — Mrs.  Clay's  Tribute  to  the  Former — The 
Evacuation  of  Atlanta    .         .         .         .         .         .         .173 

Chapter  XI.     Home  Life  of  a  Southern  Gen- 
eral. 

The  Misses  Wigfall  in  Charge  of  Mrs.  Joseph  E.  Johnston 
—A  Cheerful  Household— Mrs.  Toby's  "Party"— The 


CONTENTS— Continued  ix 

Approach  of  General  Sherman  Causes  a  Rush  from 
Macon — A  Louisiana  Swamp — Crossing  the  Mississippi 
in    Dugouts  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .193 

Chapter  XII.  A  Letter  from  the  Front. 

Captain  Wigfall  Writes  from  Near  Nashville,  December 
5,  1864 — The  Fight  at  Franklin — Marching  to  Tennessee 
— Return  to  Richmond — A  Sorrowing  Mother      .         .       2.1 1 

Chapter  XIII.     Last  Months  of  the  War. 

Unfaltering  Hope  and  Faith  of  the  South — Letters  to 
Senator  Wigfall  from  General  Wade  Hampton,  Vice- 
President  Alexander  H.  Stephens  and  General  Robert  E. 
Lee — A  War  Picture  from  North  Carolina — Character 
Sketch  of  General  Hood         .  .  .  .  .  .221 

Chapter  XIV.     The  Fall  of  the  Curtain. 

General  Johnston  Reinstated  to  Command  the  Army  of 
Tennessee — His  Sentiments  on  the  Subject — The  Sur- 
render at  Appomattox — Senator  Wigfall  Escapes  in 
Disguise — The  Last  Ball  of  the  Confederacy — Return  of 
Major  Wigfall — Poem  on  the  Confederate  Flag     .         .       235 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 


Miss  Louise  Wigfall  (Mrs.  D.  Giraud  Wright, 

of  Baltimore)  ....    Frontispiece 


FACING    PAGE 


Senator    Slidell,   of    Louisiana,  the  Misses 

Slidell,  Mrs.  Slidell     . 
Senator  James  M.  Mason,  of  Virginia 
Senator  Louis  Trezevant  Wigfall,  of  Texas 
Senator  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  of  Virginia     . 
Brigadier-General  Ben.  McCulloch,  C.  S.  A. 

The  Texas  Ranger  .... 
Senator  and  Mrs.  William  M.  Gwin,  of  Cali 

fornia     ...... 

General  G.  T.  Beauregard,  C.  S.  A. 
Hon.  and  Mrs.  William  Porcher  Miles 
Capt.  Langdon  Cheves,  C.  S.  A.,  Miss  Emma 

Cheves,  Miss  Mary  Cheves 
Edmund  Ruffin,  of  Virginia    . 
Hon.  James   Simons,   of  South  Carolina,   and 

Miss  Rheta  Simons 
William  Gourdin  Young,  of  South  Carolina 
Mrs.  Louis  Trezevant  Wigfall     . 
Miss  Fanny  Wigfall,  of  Texas  (Mrs.  B.  Jones 

Taylor,  of  Baltimore) 
Miss    Virginia    Pegram,     of     Virginia    (Mrs 

David  Gregg  Mcintosh,  of  Baltimore) 


22 

24 
28 

30 

32 

34 
36 
38 

40 
42 

44 
46 

5o 
58 
74 


xii  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Miss  Mary  Haxall,  of  Virginia  (Mrs.  Alex- 
ander Cameron,  of  Richmond)  .  .  .  76 
Miss  Mary  Triplett,  of  Virginia  (Mrs.  Philip 

Haxall,  of  Richmond)      .  .  .  .         78 

Miss    Lelia   Powers,    of    Virginia    (Mrs.    W. 

Stuart  Symington,  of  Baltimore)       .  .         80 

Miss  Evelyn  Bayly,  of  Virginia  (Mrs.  Louis 

McLane  Tiffany,  of  Baltimore)   .  .  .         82 

Senator   and  Mrs.  James    Chesnut,  Jr.,  of 

South  Carolina        . "        .  .  .  .         84 

Miss  Bertha  Rives,  of  Virginia  (Mrs.  Thomas 

Keith  Skinker,  of  Saint  Louis)  .  .         86 

General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  C.  S.  A.,  Mrs. 

Joseph  E.  Johnston  ....  96 
Miss  Hetty  Cary,  of  Baltimore      .  .  .119 

President  Jefferson  Davis  .  .  .  160 
Capt.  John  Randolph  Hamilton,  Commander 

of    the    Floating    Battery,    C.  S.  N.,    and 

Mrs.  John  Randolph  Hamilton     .  .       180 

James  L.  Pettigru,  a  distinguished  jurist  of 

Charleston,  S.  C.       .  .  .  .  .190 

Lieutenant-General  John  B.  Hood,  C.  S.  A.  230 
Miss  Mary  Maben,   of    Virginia   (Mrs.   Frank 

Peyton  Clark,  of  Baltimore)      .  .  .       236 

Miss  Turner   MacFarland,  of  Virginia  (Mrs. 

J.  Willcox  Brown,  of  Baltimore)       .  .       238 

Miss   Nannie   Enders,    of    Virginia    (Mrs.   J. 

Caskie  Cabell,  of  Richmond)      .  .  .242 

Radical   Members    of   the   Legislature  of 

South  Carolina     .         .         .         .         .250 


CHILDHOOD  IN  TEXAS 


CHAPTER   I 

Childhood  in  Texas 

THE     COMET     OF     1858 JOURNEY     BY     STAGE     COACH     FROM 

MARSHALL    TO    AUSTIN A    PRAIRIE    FIRE FORDING    THE 

BRAZOS    RIVER. 

IN  gathering  the  sad  and  happy  memories  of 
the  years  of  which  I  write,  I  am  actuated 
by  two  motives — one,  that  I  am  conscious 
that  the  days  are  passing,  and  that  if  done  at  all, 
the  chronicle  had  best  be  written  ere  the  eye  that 
has  seen  these  things  grows  dim  and  the  memory 
faulty;  and  the  other,  that  I  would  fain  live  in 
the  thoughts  of  the  children  who  shall  come 
after  me,  and  have  their  hearts,  as  they  read  this 
record,  heat_in  unison  with-^xuna,  Thus  shall 
we  be  linked  together  in  these  memories. 

I  remember,  in  the  summer  of  1858,  sitting  on 
the  broad  piazza  in  front  of  our  home  in  Marshall, 
Texas,  watching  the  great  comet  that  hung  in 
the  heavens.  I  can  see  now  the  crepe  myrtle 
bushes  with  their  rose-colored  blossoms,  flanking 
the  steps;  feel  again  the  warm,  languorous  air 
of  the  summer  night,  heavy  with  the  odor  of 
white  jasmine,  and  honeysuckle;  and  hear  again 
the   voices,    long   stilled,    as   we   talked   together 

3 


Q 


<3 

.4 


4  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

of  the  comet  and  its  portent.  As  a  child,  I 
felt  the  influence  of  the  time:  greatevents_J^ere 
formingjthe  "irrepressible  conHicV^  which  cul- 
minated mTneTawful  struggle  of  the  sixties,  was 
just  becoming,  to  theminds  of  thinkers,  ^.fearful 
■probability ;  and  when  we  looked  at  the  blazing 
cometin  tnat  fair  summer  sky,  a  feeling  of  awe 
and  mystery  enveloped  us.  Night  after  night 
we  watched  it,  and  singular  to  say,  it  is  the  only 
distinct  impression  left  on  my  mind  of  the  summer 
of  '58. 

In  the  autumn  my  iather  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  and  we  made  preparations  for  our 
journey  to  Austin.  There  were  no  railroads 
across  the  State  in  those  days,  and  the  hundreds 
of  miles  had  to  be  traversed  by  private  convey- 
ance, or  by  stage  coach. 

We  decided  to  make  the  expedition  in  our  old- 
fashioned  family  carriage,  drawn  by  a  pair  of 
stout  horses  and  driven  by  our  negro  coachman, 
Henry.  My  brother  came  with  us  on  horseback. 
We  made  the  journey  in  easy  stages — our  luggage, 
of  course,  being  sent  on  by  coach.  We  would 
drive  about  thirty  miles  a  day — never  more; 
stopping  in  the  middle  of  the  day  for  an  hour  or 
so,  when  the  horses  would  be  thoroughly  rested 
and  fed,  and  we  would  have  our  luncheon. 

At  night,  we  always  stopped  at  a  convenient 
farmhouse,  the  location  of  which  had  been 
previously  learned,   and  whose  owners  were  ac- 


CHILDHOOD  IN  TEXAS  5 

customed,  in  a  country  where  there  were  no  inns, 
to   receive   occasional   travelers. 

What  a  delightful  journey  it  was!  The  beau- 
tiful, level,  prairie  roads,  hard,  white  and  smooth, 
over  which  we  rolled,  with  little  effort  on  the 
horses'  part — stretching  behind  and  before  us 
that  wide  expanse  of  prairie,  now,  in  November, 
covered  with  tall,  waving,  yellow  grass;  but  in 
June  glorious  with  the  exquisite  blue  flowers  of 
the  buffalo  clover — stopping,  from  time  to  time,  to 
water  the  horses  from  the  pure,  limpid  springs;  the 
heavens  blue  as  a  sapphire  and  the  sun  shining! 

I  do  not  remember  any  rainy  days  in  the  ten 
during  which  we  were  on  the  road.  The  mid- 
day meal,  taken  by  the  banks  of  some  clear,  beau- 
tiful stream,  was  a  feast  indeed — a  daily  picnic 
of  the  most  enchanting  kind. 

I  recall  only  two  adventures  by  the  way.  One 
was  our  setting  the  prairie  on  fire  by  thought- 
lessly throwing  a  lighted  match  in  the  dry  grass, 
which  might  have  resulted  very  seriously  had  we 
not  been  near  a  stream,  and  had  not  the  wind  been 
blowing  towards  it,  and  in  the  opposite  direction 
from  that  in  which  we  were  going.  As  it  hap- 
pened, it  was  an  interesting  and  novel  sight, 
viewed  at  a  safe  distance.  And  it  resulted  in 
much  merriment,  as  we  recalled  our  first  frightened 
efforts  to  put  out  the  prairie  fire  by  futile  little 
journey ings  to  and  from  the  stream  with  cups  of 
water. 


6  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

Our  other  adventure  was  fording  the  Brazos 
River,  a  broad,  swift-running,  shallow  stream,  so 
limpid  that  the  stones  on  the  bottom  were  clearly 
visible. 

When  we  reached  the  ford,  we  knew  nothing 
of  the  treacherous  character  of  the  sandy  bottom, 
and  when  about  fifty  feet  from  the  shore  the 
horses  stopped  to  drink.  Imagine  our  horror 
when  we  felt  the  carriage  beginning  to  sink  and 
the  horses  to  plunge  in  a  vain  endeavor  to  extricate 
themselves.  Luckily  for  us,  the  quicksands  were 
not  very  deep,  and  having  sunk  as  far  as  the  hubs 
of  the  wheels,  there  we  stuck,  hard  and  fast. 
My  brother,  who  was  on  horseback,  was  able  to 
approach  cautiously,  and  took  each  of  us  out  of 
the  carriage  window,  when,  seated  behind  him 
and  holding  on  to  him  with  a  grip  made  intense 
by  necessity  and  terror,  we  rode  rapidly  across 
the  river  and  were  landed  safely  on  the  other 
side.  The  carriage,  now  being  lightened  of  its 
weight,  was  raised,  and  the  horses  were  enabled 
to  get  on  a  firmer  footing  and  soon  were  out  of 
their  dangerous  position.  I  must  say  that  I 
think  we  all  behaved  very  well,  as  I  have  no  recol- 
lection of  any  excitement  or  cries  of  terror,  which 
might  have  been  expected  of  us  in  such  a  new 
and  trying  experience. 

I  recall  very  vividly  the  evening  when  we  came 
in  sight  of  the  city  of  Austin :  the  brilliant  autumn 
sunset,   the  invigorating  air,   the  lovely  view  of 


CHILDHOOD  IN  TEXAS  7 

the  surrounding  country,  the  sound  of  the  horses' 
feet  ringing  on  the  hard,  smooth  road,  as  we  rolled 
along,  down  the  slope  that  brought  us  to  our 
journey's  end — half  way  across  the  State  of  Texas, 
in  ten  days. 


\Dd&u-5  ^  ^^  ^  <^T*^ 


FROM  VILLAGE  TO  CITY  LIFE 


\^uW-^-    ry^c^r<^,\  Ttfa-b 


CHAPTER   II 
From  Village  to  City  Life 

THE   WRITER'S    HOME    IN    MARSHALL ANECDOTES    OF   FAITH- 
FUL   NEGROES REMOVAL     TO     WASHINGTON MEETINGS 

WITH    SENATORS    CLAY    AND    SLIDELL    AND    THEIR    WIVES 
AND   OTHER   NOTABLES. 

It  is  curious  how  the  minor  things  in  a  life  stand 
out  against  the  background  of  the  past  like 
silhouettes.  The  great  events  are  harder  to  re- 
member than  the  trifles. 

The  village  of  MarshalT\was  not  different  from 
a  thousand  other  little  country  towns  throughout 
the  South.  The  houses  set  back  from  the  sandy 
street,  with  their  front  yards  filled  with  roses  and 
honeysuckles;  the  back  yards  with  the  servants' 
quarters  and  the  wood  piles;  the  well  dug  deep 
to  reach  the  cool  water;  and  in  it  the  tempting 
bucket  in  which  the  luscious  watermelon  was 
sent  down  to  its  mysterious  depths,  and  from 
which  it  emerged  covered  with  a  silver  frost. 
The  happy  little  darkies  played  in  the  back- 
ground through  the  summer  day,  and  gathered 
around  the  kitchen  fire  when  the  nights  grew 
chill,  and  the  white  folks  at  "the  house"  sat  by 
the  roaring  hickory  logs  at  the  chimney  side. 

ii 


i2  A  SOUTHERN   GIRL  IN   '6i 

I  never  see  a  big  wood  fire  but  I  remember  my 
father  and  the  way  he  constructed  his :  The  huge 
back  log,  first;  the  light- wood  knots  in  front,  and 
on  top  the  wealth  of  smaller  hickory;  and  then 
the  blaze,  and  the  warmth,  and  the  delight  of 
replenishing ! 

There  is  one  little  figure,  that  stands  out  in 
positive  and  pathetic  prominence,  as  I  think  of 
those  old  days;  little  Emmeline,  the  small  negro 
girl  who  was  my  constant  companion.  She  loved 
me  with  a  devotion  that  I  have  never  seen 
excelled,  and  in  her  brief  life  (for  she 
died  when  eight  years  old)  she  made  an  im- 
pression which  has  never  left  me,  and  which 
I  am  glad  to  record  here.  When  she  died, 
after  a  short  illness,  I  grieved  sincerely; 
and  to  this  day  cannot  think  of  her  without  a 
pang. 

Strange  to  say,  of  our  many  plays  together 
only  two  incidents  can  I  recall.  It  was  the  fourth 
of  July.  The  arrival  of  the  day  had  been  an- 
nounced at  dawn  by  the  explosion  of  gunpowder 
placed  in  an  anvil,  this  being  the  primitive  method 
in  vogue  among  the  village  patriots  for  ushering 
in  the  anniversary  and  producing  the  desired 
amount  of  noise.  There  was,  of  course,  the  usual 
popping  of  firecrackers,  and  the  usual  parade  of 
the  militia. 

When  little  Emmeline  heard  the  shouts  and  the 
music,  she  left  the  enchantment  of  the  approaching 


FROM  VILLAGE  TO  CITY  LIFE        13 

pageant,  even  at  the  risk  of  losing  the  sight,  to 
summon  me. 

"Oh!  run,  run,"  she  screamed  at  the  top  of  her 
voice,  "run,  and  look;  General  Washington  done 
come." 

We  had  a  dear  old  doctor  in  the  village,  and  he 
had  one  invariable  method  of  diagnosis,  which 
used  to  cause  us  all  infinite  amusement.  What- 
ever the  disease,  and  wherever  situated,  he 
always,  before  administering  his  remedies,  would 
first  proceed  to  feel  our  spines.  We  thought  it 
very  funny,  but  he  was  only  a  little  in  advance  of 
his  school.  Nowadays,  I  believe,  the  osteopaths 
pursue  the  same  practice  and  proclaim  much  the 
same  doctrine,  as  to  the  general  seat  of  disease. 
Now  Emmeline,  like  the  rest  of  her  race,  was  im- 
itative ;  she  liked  to  play  doctor.  We  saw  her  one 
day,  having  cornered  a  little  piccaninny,  named 
Hannah,  proceed  to  poke  and  punch  different 
portions  of  her  anatomy  in  true  medical  style, 
accentuating  her  thrusts  with  the  suggestive 
query  as  to  the  location  of  the  supposed  pain,  her 
voice  taking  on  an  indescribable  whine,  supposed 
to  be  professional. 

"Hannah,  Hannah,  docker  Baylor  say  your 
backbone  hurt  you,   Hannah?" 

If  she  had  lived  in  later  days  who  knows  in  what 
new  school  of  medicine  she  might  not  have  been 
a  burning  and  a  shining  light! 

Then  there  was  the  Court  House  in  the  middle 


i4  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

of  the  square,  where  the  voice  of  the  crier  was 
heard  on  Court  days  calling,  "  Oh  yes,  oh,  yes, 
come  into  Court,"  and  the  long  rack  where  the 
horses  were  hitched  in  patient  rows,  switching  off 
the  flies  with  their  long  tails.  Fortunately  for 
them  "docking"  was  an  unknown  art. 

Then  there  was  the  tavern,  with  the  wide 
front  piazza,  where  appeared  the  benches  and  the 
split-bottomed  chairs,  with  their  leisurely  occu- 
pants; and  the  inevitable  accompaniment  of  ele- 
vated legs  on  the  railing,  which  some  cavilling 
Britisher  has  styled  the  attitude  of  the  American 
Congressman. 

I  can  hear  now  the  dinner  bell,  summoning  the 
guests  at  the  hour  of  noon.  The  boys  had  a  song 
to  fit  the  monotonous  sound,  suggestive  of  the 
quality  and  quantity  of  the  repast. 

"Pigtail  done,  Pigtail  done, 
If  you  don't  come  quick 
You  won't  git  none!" 

Then  there  were  the  churches  of  different  de- 
nominations. The  quaint  Methodist  buildings, 
where  the  men  sat  on  one  side  and  the  women  on 
the  other;  where,  on  Sunday  evenings,  however, 
the  rules  were  not  so  strict  but  that  the  girls  made 
themselves  pretty  and  coquettish  enough,  in 
their  sweet  summer  dresses,  and  won  many  a  sly 
glance  of  approbation  from  across  the  rigid  divid- 
ing line. 


FROM  VILLAGE  TO  CITY  LIFE         15 

Then  there  were  the  hard-shell  Baptists  and 
the  Campbellite  Baptists;  and  from  their  pulpits 
the  theologians  of  the  different  schools  pronounced 
a  sufficient  variety  of  dogmas  to  daunt  the  souls 
and  bewilder  the  minds  of  ordinary  mortals. 

Many  of  the  negroes  were  members  of  one  or 
other  of  these  denominations.  "  Dick  "  professed 
conversion  and  was  taken  into  the  fold  by  im- 
mersion. When  "Marcia"  heard  of  it  her  com- 
ment was  congratulatory  for  two  reasons,  "One 
t'ing,  Dick  got  a  good  washin'." 

It  was  against  the  rules  for  the  negroes  to  be 
out  at  night  without  a  "pass,"  and  it  was  the 
custom  to  come  to  young  "  Massa  "  or  "  Missus  " 
to  write  them  for  them.  Many  a  one  have  I 
written.  "Henry  has  permission  to  pass  and 
repass  until  ten  o'clock"  was  the  usual  form. 

There  have  been  volumes  written  about  the 
negro,  generally  by  persons  who  knew  nothing, 
by  practical  experience,  of  the  subject  of  which  (  "JQlc^CF^ 
they  wrote.     They  theorized,  from  a  false  basis,   f       /1'l^zr^s^y) 
on  a  condition  of  things  which  existed  only  in   r^\    ,\*jl\ 
their  imaginations;  and  they  built  up  a  fabric,    \  c 
which,   in  these  later  days,   has  tumbled  down 
about  their  ears,  and  bids  fair,  in  its  fall,  to  work 
havoc,  in  more  directions  than  one.     It  may  be 
that  out  of  the  dirt  and  debris,  a  new  structure 
will  be  erected  in  time;  but  that  time  is  certainly 
not  yet.     Now  I  do  not  propose  to  theorize  on 
the  subject.     I  merely  wish  to  relate  two  or  three 


i6 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 


facts,  to  the  truth  of  which  I  can  bear  witness — 
facts  that  exhibit  the  character  of  the  negro,  as 
shown  during  the  War,  under  the  then  existing 
conditions  of  slavery. 

When  my  parents  left  home  in  the  autumn  of 
i860  to  go  to  Washington,  they  anticipated  re- 
turning in  a  few  months.  We  had  a  faithful 
woman,  named  Sarah,  whose  family  had  belonged 
to  ours  for  two  generations.  Before  our  departure 
the  silver  was  packed  away  and  the  key  given  to 
Sarah.  For  nearly  four  years  we  were  absent. 
During  that  time  the  house  was  occupied,  on 
several  occasions,  as  headquarters,  by  Generals 
of  our  own  army  in  command  at  Marshall,  per- 
mission of  course  being  given.  Sarah,  for  the 
credit  of  the  establishment,  as  she  told  us  after- 
wards, produced  the  silver  and  had  it  constantly 
in  use.  When  we  returned,  not  a  single  piece  was 
missing;  though,  in  the  meantime  the  War  had 
ended,  and  she  was  free  to  come  and  go  as  she 
chose,  and  could  easily,  in  the  lawlessness  of  the 
time,  have  decamped  with  her  prize,  with  no  one 
to  gainsay  her.  When,  on  our  return  home  after 
weeks  of  waiting  in  fear  and  anxiety  for  my 
father's  safety,  at  last  tidings  were  brought  us 
that  he  was  in  our  neighborhood — it  was  to 
Sarah  that  we  confided  the  fact,  and  through  her 
connivance,  under  cover  of  night,  he  entered  his 
home.  It  was  Sarah  who  watched  with  us  and 
stood  on  guard  through  the  long  weary  hours 


FROM  VILLAGE  TO  CITY  LIFE         17 

while  we  sat  together  and  talked  over  the  plans 
for  the  future — and  it  was  Sarah  who  saw  in  the 
early  dawn  that  the  coast  was  clear  for  her  master 
— her  master  no  longer — to  make  his  escape  from 
his  foes! 

Then  again  there  was  Henry,  my  brother's 
body  servant  during  the  War.  In  looking  back 
it  seems  strange  that  officers  in  the  army,  at  a 
time  when  they  were  barely  existing  on  a  third  of 
a  pound  of  bacon  a  day  and  a  little  corn  meal, 
should  have  decreased  their  slender  store  by 
sharing  it  with  servants.  But  those  were  the 
good  old  days  and  the  good  old  ways,  and  I, 
for  one,  would  never  have  changed  them!  Now 
one  of  my  father's  admirers  in  Texas  had  sent  to 
him  at  Richmond  a  very  beautiful  Mexican  saddle, 
heavily  mounted  in  silver,  and  he,  caring  little 
for  such  vanities  and  always  delighting  to  give  to 
his  children,  promptly  transferred  the  valuable 
present  to  my  brother.  Henry's  pride  in  his 
young  master's  grandeur  was  unbounded,  and  he 
polished  the  handsome  silver  mountings  with 
unwearied  zeal,  and  I  doubt  if  the  suggestion  ever 
occurred  to  his  simple  mind  as  to  how  sensible  it 
would  be  to  convert  a  portion  of  those  jingling 
chains  and  buckles  into  some  good  digestible 
article  to  appease  the  ever-present  hunger  of  both 
master  and  man.  After  General  Johnston's  sur- 
render, and  when  my  brother  determined  to  make 
his  way  across  the  river  to  join  Kirby  Smith,  he 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 


\» 


had  to  part  from  Henry.  That  Henry  should 
leave  him  voluntarily  never  occurred  to  either  of 
them.  He  left  him  at  a  point  in  Alabama  and 
told  him  to  wait  with  the  horse  and  famous  saddle 
until  he  should  receive  orders  to  come.  And 
there  he  remained  for  weeks,  faithful  and  obedient. 
When  at  last  my  brother  wrote  for  him  he  sold 
the  horse  and  the  saddle,  according  to  his  orders, 
and  with  the  proceeds  made  his  way  home,  where 
he  appeared  one  day  to  give  an  account  of  his 
adventures  and  expenditures.  Can  these  instances 
of  faithful  service  be  matched  in  any  negro  to-day, 
ter  nearly  forty  years  of  freedom? 
The  negro  in  slavery,  before  and  during  the  War. 
was  lazy  and  idle — he  will  always  be  that — but 
he  was  simple,  true  and  faithful.  What  he  has 
become  since  his  emancipation  from  servitude  is 
a  queer  comment  on  the  effect  of  the  liberty 
|  bestowed  upon  him.     But  that  is  going  very  far 


\r  ^field  and  away  from  our  subject. 

U^  y*  The  great  events  in  the  county  were  the  barbe- 

yfcues  and  the  commencements.     The  former  were 

^generally  the  means  of  gathering  the  politicians 

who  made  stump   speeches,   and  instructed  the 

people   as   to   the   proper   way   to   construe   the 

Constitution,  and  duly  inculcated  the  doctrine  of 

States'  rights ._  Here,  over  a  great  pit,  spanned 

by  iron  rods,  were  laid  and  roasted  huge  beeves 

and  hogs,  the  dispensing  of  which  savory  viands, 

on  immense  tables  spread  under  the  shade  of  the 


FROM  VILLAGE  TO  CITY  LIFE         19 

branching  oaks,  was  good  to  see,  and  better  to 
smell,  and  best  of  all  to  taste. 

Then  the  Commencements  were  the  events  of 
the  year.  The  "sweet  girl  graduates"  in  their 
filmy  white  robes  and  dainty  ribbons,  with  compo- 
sitions in  hand,  astonishing  the  dear  old  country 
papas  and  mamas,  by  "words  of  learned  length 
and  thundering  sound",  and  blushing  and  simper- 
ing under  the  admiring  gaze  of  the  youthful  swains. 
I  knew  of  one  of  these,  after  an  occasion  of  the 
sort,  expressing  his  feelings  of  admiration  in  rather 
an  original  way,  by  sending  his  lady  love  a  mag- 
nificent watermelon  with  its  dear  little  curly  tail 
tied  with  a  blue  ribbon !  This  youthful  enthusiast 
bore  the  euphonious  appellation  of  Alonzo  Wo- 
mack,  and  some  cruel,  unfeeling  one,  with  a 
prophetic  eye  to  the  possible  result  of  a  mutual 
consumption  of  the  luscious  gift,  made  the  follow- 
ing suggestive   couplet: 

"Alonzo  Womack 
With  a  pain  in  his  stomach." 

s  *  I    ^ 

/From   Marshall,    my    thoughts   naturally    drift  oip"1^     *    r*jLin 
back  to  Austin  where  we  spent  two  winters  before  co'°  "  v  ,    rj    u 
my  father's  election  to  the  United  States  Senate.  10*4^^  q 

I  wonder  if  my  descendants,  should  they  ever    jlX2-{~*^x>~ 
read  these  memoirs,  will  be  shocked  at  the  levity 
of  an  ancestress  who  frankly  acknowledges  that 
the  most  vivid  recollection  left  on  her  mind  is 
a  grey  merino  pelisse  and  black  beaver  hat  and 


20 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 


plumes  with  which  her  small  person  was  decked 
during  the  winter  of  1859.  At  the  house  where 
we  spent  the  winter  I  do  remember  several  inter- 
esting people. 

One  of  these  was  "  Tom  "  Ochiltree,  whose  name 
has  since  attained  wide  celebrity.  He  was  then 
clerk  of  the  Texas  Senate,  young  and  full  of 
spirit  and  mischief  and  cleverness,  of  a  kindly 
temper  and  fond  of  children. 

A  little  girl  of  six,  staying  in  the  house  with  him, 
became  deeply  enamoured,  and  used  to  weep 
bitterly  when  her  elders,  to  tease  her,  would  de- 
clare that  his  locks,  which  were  of  an  intensified 
Titian  tint,  would  set  the  house  afire. 

At  this  date  occurred  the  event,  which  was  to 
transport  me  from  the  quiet  life  I  had  led  into 
that  vast  theatre  whereon  was  acted  the  greatest 
agedy— -^£-  modern  tkaes,  and  in  which  those 
nearest  and  dearest  to  me  played  prominent 
parts.  From  their  intimate  connection  with  the 
chief  actors  in  those  tragic  days  I  have  been  taken 
behind  the  scenes,  and  enabled  from  tale  of  lip 
and  pen  to  write  this  chronicle. 

I  well  remember  the  night  we  sat  waiting  to- 
gether for  news  from  the  Capitol,  when  suddenly 
the  sound  of  music  was  heard  and  the  shouts  of 
the  crowd  coming  to  announce  the  election  of  my 
father  to  the  United  States  Senate.  In  a  short 
time  thereafter  we  went  to  Washington,  by  way 
of   Galveston,    where   we   took   the    steamer   for 


FROM  VILLAGE  TO  CITY  LIFE         21 

New  Orleans,  and  thence  up  the  Mississippi  River 
to  Memphis,  from  where  the  railroad  carried  us 
to  our  destination. 

I  remember  my  delight  in  that  journey.  New 
Orleans,  with  its  foreign  air  and  beautiful  shops; 
the  old  St.  Charles  Hotel,  where  we  stopped  for  a 
while,  that  our  wardrobes  might  receive  a  finishing 
touch  at  the  hands  of  the  modistes  and  milliners, 
whose  good  taste  was  proverbial.  Then  the 
week  on  that  river  palace,  the  old  John  Simonds, 
one  of  the  famous  boats  of  the  day.  Such  luxury 
of  living,  even  in  these  times,  could  not  be  ex- 
celled. And  the  delicious  leisure  of  it,  the  lack 
of  hurry  and  bustle.  A  week  to  go  from  New 
Orleans  to  Memphis! 

When  we  reached  Washington,  we  joined  the 
colony  at  Brown's  Hotel,  where  the  atmosphere 
was  as  distinctly  Southern  in  character  as  it  was 
Northern  at  Willard's,  the  rival  house.  Among 
"the  many  interesting  people  at^Brown's"  were 
Senator  Clement  C.  Clay  and  his  brilliant  wife. 
Mrs.  Clay  was  a  woman  of  great  vivacity,  and 
rare  charm  of  manner;  her  cleverness  and  wit 
made  her  a  delightful  companion,  and  her  lively 
sallies  at  the  great  fancy  ball,  in  the  winter  of  '58, 
where  she  personated  "Mrs.  Partington,"  with  a 
young  friend  in  attendance  as  "Ike,"  will  long 
be  remembered 

Here,  I  saw,  for  the  first  time  what  was  then 
called  "dollar  jewelry,"  and  this  was  when  Mrs. 


22  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

Clay  came  down  to  dinner  one  night,  very  ele- 
gantly gowned,  her  ornaments  being  a  beautiful 
set  of  carbuncles,  which  sparkled  and  glowed  in 
the  lamplight.  After  having  called  attention  to 
her  new  acquisitions  and  had  them  duly  admired, 
she  laughingly  confessed  that  she  had  purchased 
the  gems  at  the  •'  dollar  store  "  as  a  present  for  her 
maid.  This  happy,  buoyant  temper  enabled  her 
to  bear  up  under  the  sorrows  of  the  coming  years, 
when  her  husband,  sent  as  a  Commissioner  from 
the  Confederacy  to  Canada,  was,  on  his  return, 
imprisoned  on  a  charge  of  complicity  with  the 
assassination  of  Lincoln  (fancy  Clement  Clay,  the 
noblest,  kindest,  most  gentle  of  men,  in  the  char- 
acter of  an  assassin!),  and  though  released  after 
months  of  suffering  and  hardship,  never  recovered 
his  health  or  spirits.  Photography  was  in  its  in- 
fancy at  this  time,  and  the  little  "  cartes  de  visite," 
which  it  was  then  the  fashion  to  present  to  one's 
friends,  show  what  a  wide  step  has  been  taken 
between  those  crude  attempts  and  the  finished 
works  of  art  of  this  day. 

Among  the  many  prominent  personalities  who 
crowd  my  memory  for  recognition  are  Senator 
and  Mrs.  Slidell,  of  Louisiana,  and  their  lovely 
daughters,  one  of  whom  afterward  married  Baron 
Erlanger,  of  Paris.  Mr.  Slidell  will  probably  be 
best  remembered  by  his  connection  with  the  Trent 
affair.  Mrs.  Slidell  and  her  daughters  were  on 
the  vessel  when  her  husband  was  removed  and 


c  -1 

<  3 

w 

■j: 


FROM  VILLAGE  TO  CITY  LIFE        23 

were  taken  with  him  on  board  the  United  States 
ship.  In  making  the  removal,  the  story  goes, 
and  was  generally  believed,  though  I  cannot  vouch 
for  its  accuracy,  a  Federal  officer  laid  a  restraining 
hand  on  Miss  Slidell's  shoulder,  whereupon  she 
very  promptly  raised  her  own  and  administered 
an  emphatic  rebuke  for  his  temerity  by  a  sound 
slap  on  the  cheek.  A  rhymster  of  the  day  cele- 
brated the  fact  in  a  song,  of  which  the  following 
couplet  was  the  refrain: 

"A  bumper  for  the  gallant  girl, 
Who  slapped  the  dastard  Tory  oh!" 

The  winter  of  '60  saw  us  again  in  Washington  with 
our  quarters  changed  to  "  Wormley's."  This  was 
more  than  forty  years  ago  and  was  in  the  dawn  of 
Wormley's  fame  as  a  caterer — indeed,  I  believe  ours 
was  the  first  family  to  lodge  with  him  in  the  house, 
which  was  afterward  a  synonym  for  delightful 
living  and  even  in  those  days  the  acme  of  comfort. 
I  can  recall  now,  in  these  degenerate  times  of  dis- 
comfort and  bad  servants,  the  admirable  service 
rendered,  and  the  delicious  dinners  furnished  us, 
and  with  a  sigh  of  regret  confess  to  myself  that  if 
we  have  progressed  in  some  matters  we  certainly 
have  retrogressed  in  others. 

In  our  drawing  room  in  "  I "  Street  were  often 
gathered  many  of  the  distinguished  men  of  the 
day  —  and  I,  a  child  of  fourteen,  would  sit 
quietly   by,   listening   to    the   talk    and   hearing 


Kl 


24  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  *6i 

the  great  questions  of  the  hour  discussed.  The 
war  clouds  were  growing  black  and  threaten- 
ing, and  even  the  children  felt  the  impulse 
of  the  time.  My  great  delight  was  to  go  to 
the  Capitol  and  hear  my  father  speak  in  the 
Senate,  and  he  never  had  a  more  ardent  admirer 
of  his  fiery  eloquence  than  the  little  daughter  in 
the  gallery,  who  listened  to  the  debates  with  beat- 
ing heart;  but  with  the  most  supreme  confidence 
in  his  wisdom  and  power  to  vanquish  all  adver- 
saries. 


SENATOR  JAMES  M    MASON,  OF  VIRGINIA 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY 


CHAPTER   III 
The  Makers  of  History 

JOHN      C.      BRECKENRTDGE JEFFERSON      DAVIS JUDAH      P. 

BENJAMIN— -R.    M.    T.    HUNTER LOUIS    T.    WIGFALL,    THE 

WRITER'S    FATHER A    FAMOUS    DUEL LETTERS    TO    AND 

FROM  MRS.  WIGFALL  IN   l86l — THE  EVACUATION  OF  FORT 
SUMTER. 

In  thinking  of  the  men  who  made  the  South 
famous  in  the  Senate  at  that  day,  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent, John  C.  Breckenridge  of  Kentucky,  naturally 
comes  first  to  mind.  With  what  inimitable  dig- 
nity and  grace  he  presided  as  President  of  the  Sen- 
ate— even  his  worst  enemies  according  him  praise 
for  the  justice  and  impartiality  of  his  rulings.  He 
was  a  delightful  man  to  know  well,  and  I  shall 
never  forget  the  charm  of  his  conversation.  His 
keen  sense  of  humor,  fund  of  anecdote,  and  the 
fascinating  cordiality  of  his  manner,  made  a 
lighter  setting  to  the  sterner  qualities  of  his  char- 
acter which  came  out  fully  when,  throwing  in  his 
fortunes  with  the  young  Confederacy,  he  served 
in  the  field  as  Major  General,  and  in  the  Cabinet 
as  Secretary  of  War.  Brilliant  he  was  and  debo- 
nair, the  highest  type  of  a  Kentucky  gentleman, 
statesman  and  soldier.     I  remember  him  in  Lon- 

27 


28  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

don,  in  1867,  broken  in  fortune  and  retired  to 
private  life  from  the  exalted  position  he  had  held ; 
just  the  same  noble  gentleman  and  delightful  com- 
panion he  had  ever  been,  with  spirit  undaunted, 
and  sense  of  humor  undiminished.  He  told  us  a 
droll  story,  illustrating  this  latter  trait.  When 
he  was  in  London  at  the  time  of  which  I  have 
spoken,  he  was  much  sought  after  as  a  celebrity 
and  among  many  other  invitations  received  one 
from  the  Countess  of  Blank  to  luncheon.  This 
lady  at  the  same  time  had  advertised  for  a  foot- 
man, stating,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  the  required 
height,  etc.,  a  footman  being  considered  more  or 
less  desirable  according  to  his  dimensions.  Now 
General  Breckenridge  was  a  man  of  very  magnifi- 
cent proportions.  Mistaking  the  hour  he  reached 
the  house  before  the  appointed  time  and  by  some 
accident  was  ushered  into  Lady  Blank's  presence 
without  being  announced.  The  day  was  in  June; 
owing  to  the  heat,  the  blinds  were  drawn,  letting 
in  a  subdued  light;  Lady  Blank,  glancing  at  the 
advancing  figure,  to  the  astonishment  of  the 
visitor  greeted  him  thus: 

"Have  you  a  reference  from  your  last  place?" 
The  General  took  in  the  situation  instantly,  and 
with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye  unobserved  by  his  hostess, 
answered  respectfully, 

"Yes,  my  lady." 

"What  were  your  duties?"  was  the  next  query. 

"Well,  my  lady,  in  the  last  three  places  I  held, 


SENATOR  LOUIS  TREZEVANT  WIGFALL,  OF  TEXAS 

(1S61) 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  29 

I  was  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  Major 
General  in  the  Confederate  Army,  and  Secretary 
of  War  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America!  " 

"Oh!  General  Breckenridge,"  stammered  Lady 
Blank,  utterly  overcome  with  confusion,  and  avert- 
ing her  face.  Laughing  heartily,  he  advanced 
with  his  hands  outstretched,  and  assured  her  that 
his  vanity  was  so  tickled  at  the  implied  compli- 
ment to  his  figure  that  he  quite  forgave  her  mis- 
take. 

Jefferson  Davis  was  afterward  to  be  the  most 
famous  of  that  remarkable  group  of  men.  He 
was  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments,  polished  man- 
ners, and  of  quiet  and  grave  demeanor.  His 
integrity  of  purpose,  pure  patriotism  and  high 
courage  were  never  questioned  by  those  who  knew 
him  best.  My  father's  intimacy  with  him  was  of 
the  closest,  and  he  loved  and  esteemed  him  as  a 
friend  and  admired  him  as  a  man,  until,  in  the 
last,  unhappy  years  of  the  Confederacy,  an 
estrangement  grew  up  between  them,  owing  to 
differing  views  as  to  the  conduct  of  affairs,  of  which 
I  shall  speak  more  particularly  hereafter. 

As  showing  the  softer  side  of  Mr.  Davis's  char- 
acter, I  recall  my  father's  telling  us  one  day,  when 
he  went  to  see  him  in  Washington  on  some  grave 
matter  of  state,  that  he  found  the  future  President 
of  the  Confederacy  in  his  library,  lying  flat  on  his 
back,  with  two  or  three  of  his  little  children 
climbing  over  him. 


T^cVx^Jc,^ 


30  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

As  I  write  the  names  of  others  in  that  famous 
group,  the  familiar  faces  rise  before  me.  Ben- 
jamin, the  silver  tongued;  I  can  see  him  now  in 
the  attitude  he  always  assumed  when  speaking, 
leaning  slightly  forward,  with  one  hand  resting 
on  his  desk,  while  his  softly  modulated  voice  and 
clear  enunciation,  the  purity  of  his  English  and 
the  wonderful  flow  of  language  delighted  his 
auditors.  However  hot  and  furious  the  debate, 
the  soft  tone  of  his  voice  was  never  raised  in  anger, 
nor  his  placid  manner  the  least  ruffled  or  disturbed. 

Not  so  the  fiery  Georgian,  Tombs,  who  would 
thunder  out  his  anathemas  in  a  manner  com- 
mensurate with  his  zeal  and  earnestness  in  the 
defence  of  his  principles. 

Senator  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  of  Virginia,  was  a 
man  of  great  force.  My  father,  in  his  character- 
istic way,  said  of  him,  "  I  don't  know  what  we 
Southern  men  would  do  without  Hunter ;  he  is  the 
only  one  among  us  who  knows  anything  about 
finance!" 

As  the  fateful  winter  of  '61  wore  on,  the  Southern 
Senators  began  to  drop  off,  one  by  one,  with  the 
secession  of  their  states,  until,  at  last,  my  father 
was  left  almost  alone  in  his  place.  Texas  not 
having  seceded,  he  held  his  ground  and  refused  to 
give  up  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  until  his  state  had 
passed  the  ordinance  of  secession. 

During  this  time  he  stood  at  bay,  surrounded  by 
enemies,  the  champion  of  the  South;    vindicating 


J* 

■it 

SENATOR   R.  M.  T.  HUNTER,  OF    VIRGINIA 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  31 

the  right  of  the  Sovereign  States  to  secede,  under 
the  Constitution,  appealing  to  the  Northern  Sena- 
tors for  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  "irrepressible 
conflict,"  and  hurling  back,  in  the  faces  of  their 
defamers,  the  calumnies  against  the  Southern 
States.  It  was  then  that  he  and  Charles  Sumner, 
of  Massachusetts,  contended  in  a  memorable 
debate  on  the  issues  of  the  day.  This  contest 
excited  unusual  interest,  from  the  fact  that 
Preston  Brooks,  of  South  Carolina,  whose  attack 
on  Sumner  is  known  to  the  world,  had  fought  a 
duel  with  my  father  in  1841,  in  which  they  were 
both  wounded.  Preston  Brooks  was  shot  through 
the  hip,  and  my  father  through  both  thighs.  The 
latter  was  twenty-three  years  old  and  Preston 
Brooks  twenty-two  at  the  time.  My  father's 
second  was  John  Laurens  Manning,  afterward 
Governor  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  second  of 
Preston  Brooks  was  Pierce  M.  Butler,  afterward 
also  Governor  of  the  State.  My  father  had  been 
in  several  affairs  of  honor  before  this;  but  never 
fought  another  duel  after  his  marriage.  He  sel- 
dom mentioned  the  subject,  but  when  asked  for 
his  opinion  would  state  with  an  earnestness  of 
conviction,  as  refreshing  as  it  was  real,  that  he 
was  a  firm  believer  in  the  code  duello  as  a  factor  in 
the  improvement  of  both  the  morals  and  the  man- 
ners of  a  community !  He  held  that  it  engendered 
courtesy  of  speech  and  demeanor — had  a  most 
restraining  tendency  on  the  errant  fancy,  and  as 


32  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

a  preservative  of  the  domestic  relations  was  with- 
out an  equal.  His  fame,  as  a  marksman,  was 
known  throughout  the  State.  As  a  funny  illus- 
tration of  that,  General  Hampton  used  to  tell  a 
story,  that  as  he  was  riding  one  day  through  his 
plantation,  he  met  a  negro  on  the  road  who  touched 
his  forelock  respectfully  and  to  whom  he  stopped 
and  spoke.  He  was  sure  the  man  was  one  of  his 
own  slaves,  from  the  direction  from  which  he  came, 
but  from  idle  curiosity  asked  the  question,  "  Whom 
do  you  belong  to,  Sambo?"  Sambo  straightened 
himself  and  with  an  air  of  great  importance  replied, 
"  Colonel  Wigfall,  sah,  de  best  shot  in  Souf  Callina, 
sah!"  This  was  such  a  barefaced  misappropria- 
tion of  ownership,  as  Colonel  Wigfall 's  home  was 
in  another  part  of  the  state,  that  General  Hampton 
laughed  heartily  and  saved  the  story  as  too  good  to 
be  lost.     But  this  is  a  digression. 

Chandler,  of  Michigan,  was  another  Republican 
Senator  who  was  especially  violent  in  his  denuncia- 
tions of  the  South.  On  one  occasion  he  made  a 
very  virulent  attack,  saying  in  the  course  of  his 
speech  many  bitter  things  of  the  seceded  states; 
finishing  up  with  the  statement  that  if  certain 
contingencies  came  about,  he  would  "leave  this 
country  and  join  some  other  nation — even  the 
Comanches  he  would  prefer  to  this  Government 
in  such  a  case."  My  father  rose  in  answer  and 
stated  in  a  grave  tone  of  remonstrance,  "  that  he 
trusted  the  Senator  would  think  better  of  this 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  BEX.  McCULLOCH,  C.  S.  A. 

The  Texas  Ranker 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  3$ 

resolve,  for  the  Comanches  had  already  suffered 
toa  much  from  contact  with  the  whites!" 

At  this  time,  March,  1861,  the  Provisional  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Confederate  States  was  already 
established  in  Montgomery,  Ala.  The  Southern 
people  were  still  hoping  for  a  peaceful  solution  of 
their  difficulties  by  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter. 
In  anticipation  of  leaving  Washington  and  in  view 
of  the  uncertainty  of  their  movements,  my  parents 
had  sent  my  sister  and  myself,  children  of  eight 
and  fourteen  years  of  age,  to  remain  temporarily 
with  my  maternal  grandmother  at  Longwood,  a 
suburb  of  Boston.  My  father  writes  at  this  time 
in  a  letter  to  my  brother  at  school : 

"  Political  matters  are  in  statu  quo,  ante  helium. 
The  war  has  not  yet  begun,  but  I  believe  it  will 
before  the  end  of  summer,  though  the  general 
impression  here  is  that  we  will  have  peace. 

"  When  I  get  to  Montgomery  I'll  write  you  fully 
all  the  news,  and  my  impressions  as  to  the  political 
conditions  present  and  to  come.  Ben  McCulloch 
was  here  yesterday.  He  came  on  to  buy  Colt's 
pistols  for  a  Mounted  Regiment  in  Texas,  which 
he  is  authorized  by  the  Confederate  States  to  raise. 
He  has  gone  to  Richmond  where  I'll  meet  him 
to-morrow.  Morse  went  on  to  Hartford  to  buy 
the  pistols.  (The  indictment  against  Governor 
Floyd  has  been  dismissed  by  the  Government. 
There  never  was  the  slightest  ground  for  indicting 
him.     Andy  Johnson  was  reported  in  the  Repub- 


34  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

lican  papers  here  as  using  very  offensive  language 
in  reference  to  Governor  Floyd.  The  Governor 
addressed  him  a  note  to-day  enquiring  as  to  the 
correctness  of  the  report  and  Andy,  of  course,  dis- 
claimed it.     So  the  matter  ended.)" 

March  24th.  My  mother  says:  "Your  father 
has  gone  over  to-day  to  Alexandria  to  meet  McCul- 
loch.  McCulloch  arrived  here  last  night  and  went 
right  to  Mr.  Gwin's.  It  was  deemed  imprudent 
by  his  friends  for  him  to  remain  in  Washington 
on  account  of  the  part  he  took  about  the  Forts  in 
Texas,  and  they  advised  him  to  go  to  Alexandria, 
so  your  father  has  gone  there  to  see  him.  .  .  . 
No  news  has  yet  come  of  the  evacuation  of  Fort 
Sumter."  %. 

Again,  "  Richmond,  March  29,  1861 .  We  got  here 
Tuesday  .  .  .  and  are  staying  at  the  Spotswood 
House.  Mr.  McCulloch  is  here  to  buy  arms  for 
Texas,  and  your  father  is  assisting  him  in  making 
the  arrangements  necessary.  ...  I  see  by  to- 
day's paper  that  the  Senate  has  adjourned  and 
what  is  more  is  that  Sumter  has  not  yet  been  evac- 
uated. I  don't  believe  Jeff  Davis  will  allow  them 
to  trifle  with  him  much  longer,  and  should  not  be 
surprised  at  any  time  to  hear  that  he  was  preparing 
to  take  it.  ...  I  attended  the  Convention 
yesterday.  .  .  .  The  friends  of  secession  seem 
confident  that  Virginia  will  join  the  South,  but 
differ  about  the  time.     We  went  to  an  elegant  din- 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  35 

ner  yesterday  given  to  us  by  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Lyons. 
The  party  was  composed  of  twenty,  and  among 
them  were  Mr.  Tyler,  Mr.  McCulloch,  etc.  Mrs. 
Lyons  is  one  of  the  loveliest  people  I  have  seen  in 
a  long  time.  Mr.  Lyons  told  me  that  the  people 
here  would  never  allow  the  removal  of  the  guns 
that  have  been  ordered  to  be  sent  to  Fortress 
Monroe.  He  said  there  were  about  fifty  of  them, 
and  it  was  fully  determined  that  the  order  should 
not  be  executed.  I  think  they  are  some  miles 
from  this  city  and  would  have  to  pass  through 
here  to  get  to  Old  Point.  This  is  a  fine  looking 
old  place,  and  reminds  me  of  Charleston." 

"Charleston,  April  2nd,  1861. 
"We  arrived  here  yesterday  morning  and  I  find 
very  little  change  in  the  appearance  of  things  since 
we  were  here  eighteen  months  ago.  You  meet  a 
good  many  soldiers,  but  that  is  about  the  only 
difference.  The  people  are  all  strongly  in  hopes 
that  Fort  Sumter  wjITTg  evacuated  very  soon. 
Some  think  to-day,  and  that  the  reason  why  it 
has  been  put  off  so  long  was  on  account  of  the 
New  England  elections.  Your  father  has  gone 
down  to-day  to  visit  the  fortifications  and  has  had 
the  Lady  Davis  put  at  his  command." 

"Charleston,  April  10,   1861. 
"  You  see  we  are  still  here  and  it  is  quite  impos- 
sible to  say  for  how  long  a  time.     Your  father 
has  been  with  General   Beauregard  almost  con- 


36  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

stantly  since  we  came,  until  yesterday,  when 
General  Beauregard  requested  him  to  go  on  his 
staff,  and  since  then  he  has  been  actively  engaged 
in  carrying  out  his  orders.  I  suppose  you  know 
the  condition  of  things  from  the  papers — that  the 
administration  after  their  professions  of  peace 
have  determined  to  re-inforce  the  Fort  at  all 
risks,  and  we  are  in  hourly  expectation  of  the 
arrival  of  the  storeship  and  the  fleet  sent  to  pro- 
tect it.  General  Beauregard  is  only  waiting  for 
the  arrival  of  the  troops  from  the  country  to  make 
the  attack  on  the  Fort.  He  is  quite  confident  of 
the  result,  and  God  grant  he  may  be  right.  We 
are  all  anxious  enough  as  you  may  suppose."  At 
this  date  my  father  sent  the  following  telegram  to 
President  Davis  at  Montgomery: 

"Charleston,   io  April,   1861. 
V  No  one  now  doubts  that  Lincoln  intends  War. 


The  delay  on  his~parTis  only  to  complete  his  prep- 
arations. All  here  is  ready  on  our  side.  Our 
delay  therefore  is  to  his  advantage,  and  our  dis- 
advantage. Let  us  take  Fort  Sumter,  before  we 
have  to  fight  the  fleet  and  the  Fort.  General 
Beauregard  will  not  act  without  your  order.  Let 
me  suggest  to  you  to  send  the  order  to  him  to 
begin  the  attack  as  soon  as  he  is  ready.  Virginia 
is  excited  by  the  preparations,  and  a  bold  stroke 
on  our  side  will  complete  her  purposes.  Policy 
and  Prudence  are  urgent  upon  us  to  begin  at  once. 


Photo  by  Quinby,  Charleston,  S.  C, 

GENERAL  G.  T.   BEAUREGARD.  C  S.  A. 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  37 

Let  me  urge  the  order  to  attack  most  seriously 
Bpoiryou/"*  "L.  T.  Wigfall." 

President  Davis  sent  in  answer  from  Mont- 
gomery the  following  letter: 

"  Montgomery,  Alabama, 
"April  12th,  1 86 1. 
"My  dear  friend, 

"  Your  despatch  reached  me  after  I  had  directed 
one  to  be  sent,  which  anticipated  your  wish  so  fully 
that  you  might  have  imagined  it  to  be  an  answer 
if  the  dates  had  been  reversed.  I  shall  attend 
to  your  request  about  the  pistols.  The  Secretary 
of  War, '  to  whom  I  handed  your  letter,  has  not 
replied ;  but  there  can  be  no  difficulty  too  great  to 
be  overborne  by  your  anxiety  in  the  matter. 
"As  ever  your  friend, 

"Jefferson   Davis." 

"A  want  of  vigilance  let  Anderson  pass  from 
Moultrie  to  Sumter.  I  hope  your  guard  boats, 
steamers  and  launches  are  under  competent  and 
faithfully  watchful  officers.  "J.  D." 

The  following  letter  is  from  my  mother,  sent  to 
me  to  Longwood,  Massachusetts: 

"Charleston,  April  nth,  1861. 
".     .     .     Your  father  was  gone  all  night  with 
Captain  Hartstein,  seeing  to  placing  light  boats, 
with  fires  of  pine  wood,  in  the  harbor,  for  the  pur- 


38  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

pose  of  detecting  the  approach  of  the  enemy's 
boats.  He  has  gone  again  to-day  and  will  not 
return  until  evening.  ...  A  demand  for  the 
surrender  of  the  Fort  was  made  to-day,  but  the 
answer  has  not  yet  come.  In  case  of  Anderson's 
refusal  (of  which  there  is  little  doubt),  the  fire  of 
the  batteries  on  him  will  open  at  8  to-night.  God 
grant  the  Fort  may  be  surrendered  before  the 
arrival  of  the  Fleet,  for  although  I  believe  General 
Beauregard  is  prepared  on  every  side,  yet  I  should 
feel  all  danger  were  over  if  we  had  the  Fort.  It 
will  be  a  night  of  intense  excitement  and  although 
I  can't  help  feeling  shivery  and  nervous,  yet  I  am 
not  as  much  alarmed  as  I  might  be,  and  something 
tells  me  it  won't  be  so  bad  after  all  I  am  going 
down  after  a  while  to  walk  with  Mrs.  Chesnut  on 
the  Battery  and  will  add  more  when  I  hear  the 
answer  Anderson  returns." 

"April  12. 

"  I  was  awakened  about  half  past  four,  this 
morning,  by  the  booming  of  a  cannon,  and  it  has 
been  going  on  steadily  ever  since — the  firing  is 
constant  and  rapid — with  what  results  we  don't 
yet  know.  Your  father  has  gone  to  Morris's 
Island  to  obtain  a  report  from  the  command  there, 
and  in  order  to  avoid  the  guns  of  Sumter  he  has 
taken  Major  Whiting's  row  boat,  so  as  to  run  in 
by  the  Inlets.  I  don't  know  how  long  he  will  be 
gone." 

"  ii  o'clock.     The  news  we  hear  so  far  is  good. 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  39 

No  one  killed  on  Morris's  Island  so  far — and  a  breach 
reported  in  Fort  Sumter.  The  iron  battery  is 
working  well  and  the  balls  from  Sumter  have  no 
effect  on  it.  All  is  excitement  of  the  most  painful 
kind.  Another  story  is  that  the  Harriet  Lane 
which  was  off  the  bar  last  night  has  been  fired  into 
and  injured." 

My  father  writes  to  my  mother: 

"  Head  Quarters, 

"  Morris  Island, 

"April  12th. 

".  .  .  I  take  a  moment  to  write  you  a  line 
to  say  that  I  am  well  and  that  all  is  well.  I  can- 
not return  till  General  Beauregard  comes.  I  am 
very  busy  examining  the  position  of  the  different 
batteries  and  arranging  Infantry  to  support  them 
in  case  a  landing  should  be  attempted.  They  are, 
you  know,  entirely  out  of  the  reach  of  the  guns  of 
Sumter.  I  have  not  been  to  Cummin's  Point,  but 
hear  a  good  report.  The  Iron  Battery  stands  fire 
admirably,  and  has  dismounted  two  of  Sumter's 
barbette  guns.  Not  a  single  accident  up  to  this 
time  on  our  side.  Thought  that  Sumter  suffered 
this  morning  from  the  effect  of  shells — as  Anderson 
is  keeping  his  men  at  the  casemates.  He  has 
thrown  no  shell,  and  probably  has  none;  or  per- 
haps, no  guns  from  which  to  throw  them.  He 
has  been  throwing  32  solid  shot  at  the  iron  bat- 


4o  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

tery,  and  they  break  to  pieces,  and  fly  off  without 
making  the  slightest  impression.  Dr.  St.  Julien 
Ravenel  has  just  come  in  and  says  that  up  to  this 
time  no  one  has  been  hurt.  The  wind  is  very 
high  and  I  cannot  hear  the  firing,  but  they  still 
keep  it  up.  I  have  been  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
Island,  and  am  about  to  mount  my  horse  again. 
We  have  just  held  a  council  to  distribute  the 
forces  for  the  night,  and  before  mounting  I  write 
to  make  you  easy  and  assure  you  that  all  is  well. 


My  mother  writes : 

"Saturday,  April  13. 
"The  news  is  glorious  for  us.  No  one  hurt  on 
our  side,  and  no  damage  of  any  consequence  to  our 
batteries.  Your  father  has  been  at  Morris's 
Island  all  yesterday,  and  all  night.  He  however 
wrote  me  not  to  expect  him  and  I  did  not  feel 
uneasy,  as  Captain  Hartstein  told  me  it  was  utterly 
impossible  for  boats  to  land  with  such  a  high  sea. 
This  morning  Fort  Sumter  is  on  fire  (produced 
from  the  shells  it  is  thought).  They  say  the  flag 
is  at  half  mast  and  has  been  so  all  the  morning — a 
sure  sign  of  distress.  The  fleet  will  try  to  relieve 
him,  of  course,  but  it  will  be  in  vain,  and  thus,  I 
trust  in  God,  this  business  will  end.  Heaven  has 
favored  our  side,  and  we  are  all  grateful'to  a  Kind 
f^c^idence.  I  doubt  if  your  father  returns  before 
night." 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  41 

The  following  letter,  written  from  Charleston  to 
the  New  York  Times,  gives  a  very  fair  account  of  the 
surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  and  my  father's  connec- 
tion with  the  affair.     A  Southern  newspaper  says : 

"  Hon.  Louis  T.  Wigfall. 

"The  gallantry,  chivalry,  and  heroism  of  this 
distinguished  son  of  the  South  is  even  applauded 
by  those  from  whom  we  least  expected  a  word  of 
commendation.  The  following  is  an  extract  of  a 
letter  written  from  Charleston  to  the  New  York 
Times,  to  which  we  invite  the  especial  attention 
of  our  readers,  both  on  account  of  its  fairness,  as 
well  as  of  its  correct  representation  of  the  inter- 
view which  came  off  between  Senator  Wigfall  and 
Major  Anderson: 

"'Mr.  Wigfall's  exploit  was  as  gallant  and 
chivalrous  as  any  deed  of  modern  times. — 
Stationed  on  Morris  Island,  where  he  had  been  on 
foot  or  in  the  saddle  since  the  commencement  of 
the  attack,  he  no  sooner  saw  the  second  barracks 
in  flames  and  the  flag  staff  shot  away,  than  he 
resolved  to  make  his  way  to  the  Fort  and  persuade 
Major  Anderson  to  desist  from  a  resistance  mani- 
festly so  unavailing. 

"'Despite  the  remonstrances  of  those  around 
him,  he  embarked  in  a  skiff,  and  with  three  Negro 
oarsmen  and  a  coxswain,  pulled  over  to  the  Fort. 
He  was  scarce  a  hundred  yards  from  shore 
when  they  hailed  to  him  to  return,   "The  Stars 


42  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

and  Stripes  were  again  flying." — He  literally 
turned  a  deaf  ear  to  this  call,  and  pushed  on, 
brandishing  his  sword,  to  which  he  had  tied  his 
white  handkerchief  as  a  flag  of  truce.  From  the 
batteries  of  Fort  Moultrie  balls  and  shell  were 
aimed  at  the  skiff.  The  white  flag  was  invisible 
at  that  distance,  and  the  boat,  only  noticed  when 
nearing  the  Fort,  if  not  carrying  reinforcements, 
had  no  business  there.  A  thirty-two  pound  ball 
struck  the  water  within  five  yards  of  her,  and  was 
followed  by  a  shell  which  came  near  proving  fatal. 
The  Africans  strained  every  nerve  to  get  under 
the  lee  of  the  fort,  and  the  officers  at  the  batteries 
observing  that  the  boat  never  swerved  from  her 
course,  inferred  that  Wig] all  must  have  been  in  it, 
thereby  acknowledging  his  more  than  Palmetto 
recklessness  and  daring. 

"'On  touching  the  wharf,  the  volunteer  sprang 
ashore,  and  finding  the  gate  burst  open  by  the 
flames,  made  his  way  round  to  an  open  port  hole 
on  the  town  side  of  the  fort,  through  which  with 
the  aid  of  a  loose  piece  of  timber  which  he  placed 
beneath  it,  he  swung  himself  from  a  protruding 
gun  into  the  embrasure.  He  stumbled  unchal- 
lenged upon  one  of  the  garrison,  who  did  not  know 
where  Major  Anderson  was.  The  fire  was  still 
raging,  the  heat  intense,  and  the  smoke  insuffer- 
able. Shells  were  still  exploding  above,  and  from 
time  to  time  within  the  fort,  from  the  mortars  on 
Sullivan's  Island.     He  worked  his  way  up  to  a 


Photo  hy  Quinby,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

EDMUND   RUFFIN,  OF   VIRGINIA 

(At  the  age  of  ninety) 

He  fired  the  first  shot  at  Fort  Sumter,  and  after  the  surrender  at  Appomatox 
killed  himself,  saying  "  I  cannot  survive  the  liberties  of  my  country." 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  43 

group  of  officers  and  men  standing  near  a  casemate 
— ' '  Was  Major  Anderson  there  ? "  "  No !  "  Before 
the  party  had  recovered  their  surprise  at  the 
apparition,  Major  Anderson  came  up  from  the 
quarter  Wigfall  had  just  left.     He  saw  the  sword 

and  white  handkerchief 

'"  "  Whom  have  I  the  honor  of  addressing? " 
"'"  Col.  Wigfall,  of  Gen.  Beauregard's  staff." 
" '  "  May  I  inquire  your  business  with  me? " 
" ' "  I  have  come  to  say  that  you  must  strike 
your  colors.      Your   position  is  untenable. — You 
have    defended    it     gallantly.      It's    madness    to 
persevere    in     useless     resistance.      You    cannot 
be   reinforced.     You  have   no   provisions. — Your 
ammunition  is  nearly  exhausted,  and   your  fort 
is  on  fire." 

"  ' "  On  what  terms  do  you  summon  me  to  sur- 
render ? " 

"  '  "  Unconditional.  Gen.  Beauregard  is  an  officer 
and  a  gentleman.  He  will,  doubtless,  grant  you 
all  the  honors  of  war,  but  speciali  gratia" 

"'"Well,  I  have  done  all  that  was  possible  to 
defend  this  fort." 

'"  "You  have.     Haul  down  your  flag." 
" ' "  But  your  people  are  still  firing  into  me." 
"'"Hoist  a  white  one.     If   you  won't,  I   will, 
on  my  own  responsibility." 

"  'A  shell  burst  in  the  ground  within  ten  paces 
of  them  as  they  were  speaking.  Major  Anderson 
invited  the  Ex-Senator  into  a  casemate;   a  white 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

flag  was  hoisted,  the  firing  ceased,  and  what  is 
called  the  "battle  of  Fort  Sumter"  was  over.    | 
0s*   yep  sVr  " '  All  parties  concur  that  Wigf all's  performance 

was  an  act  of  heroism  and  high  humanity.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  Major  Anderson  and  the 
garrison  were  in  that  state  of  morbid  exaltation 
which  is  the  forerunner  of  martyrdom.  They 
were  ready  to  see  their  magazines  explode  and 
"die  in  their  tracks." 

" '  You  know  all  the  details  of  the  capitulation, 
and  have,  doubtless,  done  justice  to  the  delicacy 
and  generosity  of  the  rebel  general  in  requiring 
no  parole,  besides  according  all  the  honors  of  war 
to  the  gallant  defenders  of  Sumter. 

" '  Newspaper  correspondents  have  generally  ex- 
aggerated the  jubilation  in  this  city  at  the  evacua- 
tion of  Fort  Sumter.  There  were  no  bonfires,  no 
illuminations,  and  far  less  exuberances  of  con- 
viviality than~T~  have  TvFtpn  aSBEsaSj  during  a 
race  week.  On  the  contrary,  there  were  mani- 
festations of  thankfulness— of  the  relief  afforded 
.by  the  removal  of  a  great  anxiety.' " 

The  following  communication  was  received  by 
my  father  from  General  Beauregard  and  his 
answer   is   appended : 

"  My  dear  Colonel: 

"Will  you  do  me  the  favor  to  prepare  for  the 
files  of  my  office  a  clear  and  concise  statement 
of  the  main  facts  of  yesterday's  proceedings,  so 


THE  MAKERS  OF  HISTORY  45 

far  as  they  related  to  yourself,  and  to  Sumter, 
for  use  hereafter  if  required. 
"  Yours  truly, 

"G.  T.  Beauregard." 

"  Head  Quarters,  Confederate  States  Army, 

"  Charleston,    South   Carolina, 

"April    13,    1861. 
"  Major: 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  between  one 
and  two  o'clock  this  afternoon,  the  flag  having 
fallen  at  Fort  Sumter,  and  its  fire  having  ceased, 
I  left  Morris's  Island,  with  the  consent  and  ap- 
proval of  General  Simons  to  demand  the  sur- 
render of  the  work,  and  offer  assistance  to  the 
garrison. 

"  Before  reaching  the  Fort  the  flag  was  again 
raised.  On  entering  the  work  I  informed  Major 
Anderson  of  my  name  and  position  on  the  staff 
of  the  Commanding  General,  and  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  Fort  to  the  Confederate  States. 

"  My  attention  having  been  called  to  the  fact 
that  most  of  our  batteries  continued  their  fire,  I 
suggested  to  Major  Anderson  that  the  cambric 
handkerchief,  which  I  bore  on  my  sword,  had 
probably  not  been  seen,  as  I  crossed  the  Bay,  and 
requested  him  to  raise  a  white  flag;  which  he  did. 
The  firing  then  ceased  from  all  our  batteries — 
when  Major  Anderson  lowered  his  flag  and  sur- 
rendered  the   Fort. 


46  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

"The  time  and  manner  of  the  evacuation  are 
to  be  determined  by  General  Beauregard. 

"  Before  the  surrender  I  expressed  the  confident 
belief  to  Major  Anderson  that  no  terms  would  be 
imposed,  which  would  be  incompatible  with  his 
honor  as  a  soldier,  or  his  feelings  as  a  gentleman — 
and  assured  him  of  the  high  appreciation  in  which 
his  gallantry  and  desperate  defence  of  a  place,  now 
no  longer  tenable,  were  held  by  the  Commanding 
General. 

"  Major  Anderson  exhibited  great  coolness,  and 
seemed  relieved  from  much  of  the  unpleasantness 
of  his  situation  by  the  fact  that  the  proposal  had 
been  made  by  us  that  he  should  surrender  the 
work,  which  he  admitted  to  be  no  longer  defensi- 
ble. 

"  I  take  great  pleasure  in  acknowledging  that 
my  success  in  reaching  the  Fort  was  due  to  the 
courage  and  patriotism  of  Private  William  Gourdin 
Young,  of  the  Palmetto  Guard ;  without  whose  aid 
I  could  not  have  surmounted  the  obstacles. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  the  highest  respect. 

"  Louis  T.  Wigfall. 
"Major  D.  R.  Jones, 

"Asst.  Adjutant  General, 

"Confederate  States  Army." 


WILLIAM  GOURDIN  YOUNG,  OF  CHARLESTON,  S.  C. 

Who  steered  the  boat  to  Fort  Sumter  for  General  Wigfall 


THE  FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  THE 
CONFEDERACY 


(X^Y^V^^fV^Vv 


CHAPTER   IV 

The  Feminine  Spirit  of  the  Confederacy 

MRS.    WIGFALL'S     LETTERS     FROM     MONTGOMERY,    ALABAMA, 

AND  FROM  RICHMOND A  RHODE  ISLAND  CORRESPONDENT 

A     HUMOROUS     INCIDENT THE      OBSERVATIONS     OF     A 

GIRL     OF     FOURTEEN HER    JOURNEY     FROM     BOSTON    TO 

BALTIMORE. 

A  few  days  after  the  fall  of  Sumter  my  father 
was  on  the  way  to  Montgomery  where  he  arrived 
April  24th  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Congress 
which  convened  on  the  29th,  and  to  which  he 
came  as  Deputy  from  the  State  of  Texas. 

My  mother  writes: 

"  Montgomery,  April  26. 
"  The  people  here  are  all  in  fine  spirits,  and  the 
streets  are  so  lively  and  every  one  looks  so  happy, 
that  you  can  scarcely  realize  the  cause  of  the 
excitement.  No  one  doubts  our  success. 
I  suppose  the  chief  fighting  will  he.  in  Ma.rv1a.nH 
and  Virginia.  .  .  .  This  is  a  beautiful  town 
and  much  larger  than  I  expected  to  see  it.  There 
are  a  great  many  gardens,  and  as  beautiful  flowers 
as  I  ever  saw  anywhere.  Several  bouquets  of  the 
most    superb    flowers    were    presented    to    your 

49 


50  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

father  the  night  he  spoke  here  and,  of  course,  I 
J-f^  nad  the  benefit  of  them.     The  streets  are  very 

<£  wide,  and  five  of  them  unite,  and  diverge  on  the 

(J>^  square  opposite  us.     Something  like  Washington." 

^  "29th:     I  have  been  this  morning  to  witness 

M  the  opening  of  Congress,  and  hear  the  President's 

_  message.     It  was  an  admirable   one,   worthy  of 

^J  his  reputation.     It  gives  such  a  fair  and  lucid 

\  statement  of  matters,  as  they  now  stand,  that  I 

2  am  sure  it  will  do  good  abroad,  if  not  at  home. 

CT  ^     .  w-^-T=\This  afternoon  I  went  with  Mrs.  Chesnut 

to  call  on  Mrs.  Davis?)  I  am  going  tomorrow  to 
her  reception.  .  .  .  You  allude  to  reports 
given  in  the  Northern  papers  of  the  Fort  Sumter 
affair.  It  is  only  what  might  have  been  expected 
of  them,  that  they  would  garble  and  misrepresent 
, the  truth:  but  I  must  confess  that  Major  Ander- 
son's silence,  and  the  disingenuous  bulletin  he  sent 
to  Cameron  have  surprised  me.  He  takes  care 
not  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  and  any  one  to  read  his 
statement  would  suppose  he  had  only  come  out  on 
those  conditions,  whereas,  he  surrendered  uncon- 
ditionally— the  U.  S.  Flag  was  lowered  without 
salute  while  your  father  was  in  the  fort.  This 
was  seen,  not  only  by  your  father,  but  by  the 
thousands  who  were  on  the  watch,  and  it  was 
only  owing  to  General  Beauregard's  generosity 
(misplaced,  it  seems,  now)  that  he  was  allowed 
to  raise  it  again,  and  to  salute  it  on  coming  out  of 
the   Fort,   and  take  it  with  him.     .     .     .     And 


MRS.  LOUIS  TREZEVANT  WIGFALL 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY    51 

this  conduct  too,  after  the  kind  and  generous 
treatment  he  met  with  from  the  Carolinians. 
Judge  Ochiltree  is  here  and  tells  me  Tom  is  a 
private  in  a  company  that  Capt.  Bass  has 
raised  in  Marshall.  .  .  .  The  drums  are  beat- 
ing here  all  the  time,  and  it  really  makes  me  heart- 
sick when  I  think  about  it  all.  ft  r^ 

"  I  don't  think  though  that  the  military  en-  \jxcA°^  Lt-~ 
thusiasm  can  be  very  high  at  the  North  as  I  see  r-><V,  N  ^ 
they  are  offering  $20  additional  pay  to  volunteers 
a  month.  That  fact  speaks  volumes.  I  suppose 
it  is  to  be  accounted  for  in  the  anxiety  to  get  rid 
of  the  mob  population  who  might  be  troublesome 
at  home." 

A  Northern  woman  who  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,   but  who  had  lived  all  her  married  life 
in  the  South,   returned  after  her  widowhood  to 
Providence  to  be  among  her  people.     The  follow-     iQ^tV^-  V^^ 
ing  letter  was  written  by  her  to  my  mother :  .  „.   u— 


"May  13th,   1861.      ^3^ 
"  .     .     .     We  are  always  delighted  to  hear  from    rAriVWt^*^'' 
you — and  indeed  your  letters  and  Louis's  are  the  \&^^ 

only  comfort  we  have  in  this  Yankee  land  sur-  Qxf  q 

rounded  by  people  who  have  no  sympathy  with    K     .A f:  v*/ 
us,   and  who  only  open  their  lips  to  revile  the  \}*^       \xr< 
South  and  utter  blood-thirsty  threats.     This  morn-         \^ 
ing  an  amiable  lady  wished  she  had  Jeff  Davis  in  ^     - 
front  of  a  big  cannon.     This  feminine  wish  was     Y3 


52  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

uttered  in  the  cars  when  L.  and  F.  were  going 
in  to  Boston.  We  have  now  sufficient  proof_p£. 
V|r>w  rvnir>v.  g^oagSp  t™+™  is  Sap  ^vp  of  country. 
Where  was  the  patriotism  of  Massachusetts  when 
the  country  was  at  war  with  the  English  in  1812? 
I  lived  then  at  the  South,  and  was  ashamed  of  my 
countrymen  who  refused  to  assist  in  the  war. 
Massachusetts,  which  was  the  leading  state  of  New 
England,  refused  to  let  her  militia  leave  the  state 
and  when  the  U.  S.  troops  were  withdrawn,  to 
fight  in  other  places,  applied  to  the  Federal 
Government  to  know  whether  the  expenses  of 
their  own  militia,  who  were  summoned  to  defend 
their  own  State,  would  be  reimbursed  by  the 
Government.  When  our  capitol  at  Washington 
was  burned  with  the  President's  House  and 
Treasury  buildings,  and  other  public  buildings, 
why  did  they  not  go  to  meet  the  British?  On 
the  contrary,  they  rejoiced  at  the  English  victories, 
and  put  every  obstacle  they  could  in  the  way  of 
the  government.  Now  they  are  subscribing  mil- 
lions, and  urging  every  man  to  go  and  fight  their 
own  countrymen.  It  is  not  patriotism;  it  is 
hatred  to  the  South  and  woe  is  mp,  that  I  mi^t 


live  here  among  such  people.  God  grant  you 
success.  Jt  is  a  righteouswai^rjLd  all  th"pHh|nnH- 
jshed  will  be  upon  the  souls  of  those  who  brought 
it  on.  "  "" 

~~*~.     .     .     I   think,   however,    that   you   at   the 
South  are  wrong  to  undervalue  the  courage  and 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY    53 

resources  of  the  Northern  States.  They  are  no 
cfaubt  less  accustomed  to  the  use  of  flrparmc; — 
there  are  very  few_who  know  how  to  ode,  and 
they  are  less  fiery  in  their  impulses  They  are  1 
1ess_  disposed  to  fight,  but,  they  are  nnt  rnwarrlly 
where  their  interests  are  pnnrpmp.r) ;  and  wi]1 
/jg/at  /or  f/tgtV  money.  Where  their  property  is  at 
stake  they  will  not  hesitate  to  risk  their  lives, 
and  at  present  there  is  no  laeV  of  money  The 
women  are  all  roused,  and  are  urging  their  relatives 
on ;  while  some  of  the  young  ladies  are  exceedingly 
anxious  to  imitate  Florence  Nightingale,  and 
distinguish  themselves  in  the  Army.  The  boys 
are  parading  about  with  red  shirts  and  guns; 
fend  their  wise  mothers  are  admiring  their  military 
ardor. 

"  I  would  not  advise  you  of  the  South  to  trust 
too  much  in  the  idea  that  the  Northerners  will  not 
fight;  for  I  believe  they  will,  and  their  numbers 
are  overwhelming.  You  know  an  army  of  ants 
can  kill  a  wounded  horse.  It  is  a  mistake,  too, 
for  you  to  suppose  that  it  is  only  the  lower  orders, 
who  are  enlisted.  I  have  heard  of  a  good  many 
of  the  most  respectable  young  men,  who  have 
enlisted  for  three  years.  I  suppose  there  are  a 
good  many  counter  jumpers  and  Irish  among  them ; 
but  still  there  are  many  very  dprent.  pprsnnp  who 
have  gone  tr>  t.hp  war*  I  hear  that  with  Gov. 
Sprague  no  less  persons  than  W.  G.  and  M.  J. 
have  gone.     Are  you  not  alarmed?     Think  of  M. 


54  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

Pray  keep  out  of  his  way!  I  wonder  what  his 
Quaker  progenitors  would  say,  could  they  look 
out  of  their  graves?  He  has  not  an  ancestor,  on 
either  side,  for  as  far  back  as  they  can  be  traced, 
who  was  not  a  broad  brimmed  Quaker.  Little  F. 
has  had  some  skirmishes  with  the  girls  on  Politics ; 
but  there  has  been  no  bloodshed;  and  the  last  I 
heard  of  it  is,  they  said  '  anyhow'  she  was  '  a 
smart  little  thing  and  talks  very  well.'  L.  does 
^§T"  not  walk  out  alone:  she  always  goes  into  Boston 


""A 


^ 


Cp:  with  F.  or  me.     By  the  way — I  hear  it  said  they 


n)^  have  got  enough  cotton  at  the  North  t.n  su|  >  p  I 


their  factories  for  a  vear?  Can  it  be  true?  If  so, 
I  think  there  has  been  a  great  mistake  somewhere. 
Thfi  only  thing  that  will  bring  these  people  to  t,he(r 
senses  is  to  stop  the  importation.  I  was  surprised 
to  see  the  other  day  that  a  cargo  of  rice  from 
Savannah  was  stopped,  and  the  vessel  was  allowed 
to  sail  with  a  load  of  cotton!  " 

My  mother  writes: 

"May  23rd,   1 86 1. 

" .  .  .  Congress  has  adjourned  to  meet  in 
Richmond  on  the  20th  July.  The  President  has 
begged  your  father  to  act  on  his  staff.     .     . 

"Richmond,  May  30th. 
"After  a  terribly  fatiguing  journey  we  arrived 
here   safely  yesterday  morning.     We  left  Mont- 
gomery   on    Sunday    night,    at    8    o'clock,    and 
travelled  night  and  day,  until  yesterday  morning. 


-^O      C*r>^rC>Aj<-VjU*^<£-       Vv^^cO      ^CA-it^t--^ 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY    55 

"The  President  was  everywhere  most  raptur- 
ously received.  ...  I  was  all  packed  to 
start  for  Texas,  when  your  father  found  that  the 
President  was  so  unwilling  for  him  to  go  back  at 
that  time,  that  he  determined  to  accept  the 
position  of  Aide  and  at  least  act  in  that  capacity 
until  the  opening  of  Congress,  which  will  be  on  the 
20th  July.  So  here  we  are.  These  Virginians 
seem  likely  to  overwhelm  your  father  with  their 
attentions  and  kill  him  with  kindness — for  yester- 
day he  had  to  make  no  less  than  four  speeches. 

"The_  whole  country  as  we  came  through  was 
like  a  military  camp.  The  cars  _£rawded  with 
troops,  and  all  as  jubilant  as  if  they  were  going  to 
a  frolic,  instead  of  to  fight.  The  President  is  to 
take  the  field;  but  I  don't  know  the  exact  pro- 
gramme, and  if  I  did  it  would  not  be  safe  to  write 
it — for  there  is  no  telling  who  may  read  our 
letters  now-a-days.  Your  father  of  course  will 
go  with  him.  ~[t  seems  strange  to  me  that  I  don't 
feel  more  frightened." 

The  President  and  his  party  were  established 
at  the  Spotswood  Hotel  where  they  gathered 
round  them  a  distinguished  group. 

vvMy  mother  writes: 

"June  nth  and  14th. 
"We  are  still  at  the  Spotswood  Hotel  but  I 
don't  know  whether  we  shall  continue  very  long. 


56 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 


The  President  and  his  family  will  move  next  week 
to  the  place  selected  for  them.  I  hear  it  is  very- 
handsome  and  the  City  Council  has  bought  and 
put  it  at  the  disposal  of  the  Government.  They 
have  also  given  Mrs.  Davis  the  use  of  a  nice  car- 
riage and  horses  and  seem  disposed  to  do  all  they 
can  to  show  their  joy  at  the  exchange  from 
Montgomery.  .  .  .  So  far  all  is  quiet  here 
and  I  can  yet  scarcely  realize  that  we  are  at  war, 
actually. 

"  .  .  .  I  drove  out  with  Mrs.  Davis  yesterday 
to  one  of  the  Camp  grounds  and  it  was  really  a 
beautiful,  though  rather  sad  sight  to  me,  to  see 
them  drill  and  go  through  with  their  manoeuvres, 
nor  fellows!  how  many  will  never  return  to  their 
jhomes!  .  .  .  There  are  several  camp  grounds 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  people  throng  them 
every  afternoon  and  unless  you  engage  a  carriage 
in  the  morning,  it  is  very  hard  to  procure  one." 

To  show  how  the  humorous  side  of  life  runs 
parallel  with  its  serious  side  I  will  relate  a  little 
incident.  Col.  and  Mrs.  Bradley  Johnson,  of 
Maryland,  were  in  Richmond  at  that  time  eagerly 
engaged  in  equipping  a  regiment  of  Marylanders 
for  the  field.  Mrs.  Johnson  was  having  the  cloth- 
ing made  for  the  men. 

One  day  at  the  President's  table,  where  she  was 
dining,  she  told  the  assembled  company  of  a 
contre-temps,  which  had  occurred,  a  real  tragedy — 
in  view  of  the  difficulties  surrounding  her  enter- 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY    57 

prise.  The  undergarments  of  the  men,  by  some 
unfortunate  accident,  inexplicable,  and  most  de- 
plorable, had  all  been  cut  out  for  the  same  leg! 
The  lady  was  in  real  grief  over  the  mishap,  and, 
in  spite  of  the  ludicrousness  of  the  situation,  the 
company  were  so  in  sympathy  with  her  trouble, 
that  even  the  most  frivolously  inclined  forbore  to 
smile — except  Mrs.  Davis,  who  could  not  repress 
her  mirth;  but  laughed  long  and  unrestrainedly, 
much  to  the  discomfiture  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  to  whom 
it  was  no  joking  matter. 

At  this  time  mv  parents  began  to  feel  great 
anxiety  at  their  separation  from  my  sister  and 
myself ;  who  were  still  at  LongwoodT  near  Boston. 
They  had  been  in  correspondence  for  some,  time. 
with  t.fie  ff]p fives  with  wh™^  w^  weee  cf?ying; 
but  it  was  difficult  to  arrange  matters,  and  in  the 
meanwhile  all  communication  was  rapidly  being 
closed  between  the  North  and  South. 

I  give  below  some  extracts  from  letters  written 
by  myself,  a  child  of  fourteen — dated:  , 

QJXK    \  « 
"  Longwood,  near  Boston,  a  <A#-<~><L  I 

"  April  and  May  and  June,  1861.        ^0^£_rr*^ 
" .     .     .     Isn't  the  news  from  Sumter  delightful.       ^> 

When  I  read  the  account  in  a  paper,  I  felt  like 

crying   for   joy.     No   one   sympathizes   with   me 

here,  except  Gran  H  mam  a.  r  anH  I  feel  like  a  stranger 

in  a  foreign  land. 

"  Everybody  here  is  groaning,  and  deploring  the 


58  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

taking  of  Sumter.  Uncle  B.  says  that  Boston 
was  the  scene  of  great  excitement  to-day,  all  the 
military  were  getting  ready  and  everyone  is  on  the 
lookout  for  war  in  earnest.     .     .     . 

"  I  went  into  Boston  to-day  and  you  never  saw 
such  confusion ;  the  State  House  steps  and  grounds 
were  crowded  with  men,  some  to  see,  and  some 
to  volunteer. 

"  Grandmama  had  a  letter  from  Mama,  written 
in  the  midst  of  the  firing  of  the  guns  at  Sumter. 
One  of  Uncle  B.'s  last  puns  (you  know  how  fond 
he  is  of  making  them)  was  the  following.  '  What 
does  the  man  who  robs  and  catches  the  Governor 
of  South  Carolina  get?  Poor  Pickings.'  (Gov- 
ernor Pickens.)  I  have  just  returned  from  seeing 
a  company  of  Zouaves  drill,  their  manoeuvres 
were  miserable  (!)  and  if  this  is  a  specimen  of 
Northern  chivalry,  I  don't  think  we  have  much  to 
fear.  Everybody  here  knows  who  we  are,  and 
whenever  I  go  out  the  p^npjp  state  and  ga7pt  sut 
us.  This  evening  I  found  little  Fanny  sur- 
rounded by  girls,  who  were  questioning  and  teasing 
her.  She  seemed  to  be  perfectly  able  to  maintain 
her  position,  and  she  said,  '  she  gave  them  as  good 
as  they  sent ; '  they  all  seemed  quite  amused  at  her 
answers,  and  said  they  liked  to  hear  her ;  she  talked 
so  'funny.'  One  of  the  girls  soon  after  came  up 
to  where  I  stood  and  said  she  thought  the  girls 
'hadn't  ought  to  tease  Fanny.'  This  is  one  of 
their  common  expressions,  and  another  is  that  they 


MISS  FANNY   WIGFALL,  OF  TEXAS 
(Mrs.  B.  Jones  Taylor,  of  Baltimore) 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY    59 

'admire'  to  take  a  walk,  or  play  on  the  piano. 
Grandmama  and  I  went  into  Boston  the  other  day 
and  to  my  joy  I  saw  a  photo  of  President  Davis 
in  one  of  the  windows.  I  immediately  purchased 
it.  The  Babcocks  are  coming  to  take  tea  with  us 
this  evening,  and  I  anticipate  a  good  deal  of  pleas- 
ure in  seeing  Emma.  She  is  lovely  as  ever  and  I 
am  sure  you  would  like  her.  We  are  fast  friends 
and  I  made  her  promise  she  would  read  Mr. 
Davis's  message,  and  as  a  reward  I  shall  give  her 
a  very  small  piece  of  the  flag  staff  you  sent  me. 
She  is  a  very  sensible  girl  and  in  all  our  discussions 
we  never  get  the  least  excited  or  vexed.  'Abe 
Lincoln!'  is  her  hero,  and  'Jeff  Davis'  is  mine; 
but  there  is  one  thing  she  never  can  explain, 
namely,  'Abe's'  flight  through  Baltimore!  But 
we  agree  in  almost  everything  else.  She  thinks 
Napoleon  the  greatest  man  that  ever  lived,  and 
so  do  I,  and  that  is  a  never  failing  source  of  con- 
versation. 

"Mrs.  Lincoln  is  now  in  Boston,  and  I  suppose 
the  Republicans  are  all  flocking  to  see  her,  and 
she  is  asking  them  '  How  they  flourish  ? '  Boston 
is  in  a  whirl  of  excitement;  troops  drilling  and 
volunteering  all  the  time — the  stores  and  houses 
all  decked  with  flags.  .  .  .  Dear  Papa^  won't  you 
send  us  each  a  small  flag  of  South  Carolina,  and  the 
Confederate  States?     I  am  very  anxious  to  see 


them.     Yesterday  evening  Aunt  F.  got  an  invita- 
tion to  attend  a  meeting  of  ladies  to  make  shirts, 


6o  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  \5i 

and  sew  for  the  different  regiments;  she,  of  course, 
is  not  going.  A  poor  set  of  creatures  they  must 
be  if  they  can't  furnish  their  own  shirts!  .  .  . 
Uncle  B.  has  just  bought  the  Sun  announcing 
the  secession  of  Virginia.  I  feel  as  if  I  can't  con- 
tain myself  I  am  so  glad.  Poor  Uncle  B.  looks  as 
if  he  had  taken  a  blue  pill — he  takes  everything  so 
to  heart;  it  is  deplorable  to  see  him.  Aunt  F.  is 
in  hopes  that  all  the  States  will  now  follow  and 
that  will  be  the  means  of  securing  peace." 

My  father  in  the  meantime  had  been  conferring 
by  letter  with  Mr.  William  T.  Walters,  of  Balti- 
more, as  to  the  best  means  of  getting  us  through 
the  lines.  The  following  letter  was  written  by  me 
to  my  brother  at  the  Military  School  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Virginia  just  about  two  weeks  before  we 
finally  succeeded  in  making  the  arrangements  for 
our  departure. 

"July  15th,  Longwood,  near  Boston. 
".  .  .  I  received  your  last  letter  several  days 
ago,  and  I  had  a  letter  from  Mama  about  the 
same  time,  telling  Grandmama  to  send  us  on  by 
the  first  good  opportunity,  but  the  way  Mr.  Walters 
said  was  the  only  way  we  could  go  would  not  have 
been  safe,  and  I  am  now  anxiously  awaiting  news 
from  Mama  as  to  whether  we  shall  go  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  and  let  Papa  send  a  flag  of  truce,  and  get 
us  or  not.  My  trunks  were  all  packed  ready  to 
start  at  a  minute's  notice,  when  we  received  Mr. 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY   61 

Walter's  letter,  telling  us  that  the  only  way  of 
reaching  Richmond  was  by  going  through  Win- 
chester, to  which  you  know  the  troops  are  making 
a  general  movement. 

"  You  may  imagine  how  I  felt.  When  Mr.  Wal- 
ters wrote  the  last  time,  all  was  different,  and  I 
fully  expected  to  go  home.  I  had  already  pictured 
our  meeting.  I  almost  felt  your  kiss  and  I  heard 
Papa  calling  us  'his  darlings'  and  Mama's  dear 
voice,  and  in  one  moment  all  was  gone,  and  I 
glanced  out  of  my  window  and  instead  of  Rich- 
mond, I  saw  miserable  old  Boston.  I  felt  as  if 
my  heart  would  break. 

"  You  ask  me  in  your  last  if  I  am  not  '  isolated ' 
— that  is  exactly  the  word.  With  the  exception 
of  Emma  Babcock,  and  her  family,  there  is  not  a 
soul  here  that  cares  whether  I  go  or  stay,  or  that 
I  could  call  a  friend;  but  if  nobody  likes  me,  there 
is  some  satisfaction  in  knowing  there  is  no  love  * 

lost.  If  I  did  not  follow  your  injunction,  and  "TI^op^^^ 
never  believe  what  I  see  in  Republican  journals  I  ^  pv©\JU^ 
should  have  an  nwf.n1  timn  nf  it;  for  they  make  out        Q  / 

themostdesperate  case.     All  the  C.  S.  soldiers  are  /f 

poor,  half  starved,  naked,  miserable  wretches  that 
will  run  if  you  stick  your  finger  at  them;  who  are 
all  waiting  for  a  chance  to  desert,  etc.,  and  become 
loyal  citizens  to  King  Abraham,  the  First,  and 
prime  minister,  General  Scott.  The  Southerners 
are  defeated  in  every  engagement;  all  the  killed 
and  wounded  are   on  their  side,   and  none  are 


62  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

injured  on  the  other.  Such  is  about  the  summary 
of  their  statements — mats  je  ne  le  crois  pas,  and  so 
they  don't  disturb  my  mind  much.  I  saw  that 
Papa  had  gone  disguised  as  a  cattle  drover  to  Wash- 
ington, to  pick  up  information  for  the  President! 
That  is  about  a  specimen  of  their  stories.  Mama 
writes  me  in  her  last  that  you  have  joined  the 
Military  School  at  the  University  of  Virginia,  and 
would  enter  the  army  in  three  months,  if  you 
wished  to,  at  the  end  of  that  time.  I  suppose  you 
are  very  glad.  I  don't  wonder  and  wish  I  could 
go  too.  I  sit  down  to  the  piano  every  day  and 
play  '  Dixie '  and  think  of  you  all  away  in  '  the 
land  ob  cotton,'  etc." 

Mr.  Walters's  letter,  to  which  allusion  is  made, 
is  here  given  and  it  was  determined,  after  all,  that 
this  was  the  only  feasible  plan  to  get  us  through 
the  lines. 

"Balto.,  9th  July,   1861. 
"Mrs.  Frances  M.  Cross. 
"  Dear  Madam: 
"  I  have  this  moment  received  your  letter  dated 
yesterday  and  have  just  telegraphed  Mr.  Bucklin. 
Since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  writing  you  last  it  has 
become  vastly  more  difficult  to  get  to  Virginia, 
and  this  very  day  the  Federal  Government  has 
taken  possession  of  the  steamers  composing  the 
line  via  the  Patuxent  River — the  most  desirable 
route — leaving  at  present,  but  the  one  open  by 


^^  £i*fl«J'  U|  ^  £*£ 


TU 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY   63 

way  of  Balto.  &  Ohio  R.  Road,  to  a  point  near 
Harper's  Ferry,  thence  by  stage  to  Winchester 
and  Strasburg,  and  thence  by  Railway  via  Manas- 
sas Junction  to  Richmond. 

"To  pass  the  Federal  Pickets  near  Harper's 
Ferry,  it  would  be  necessary  to  have  the  pass  of 
the  War  Department  at  Washington.  This  I 
have  no  doubt  I  can  procure,  and,  as  I  before 
intimated,  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to 
undertake  the  charge  of  your  grandchildren.  As 
I  communicated  by  telegraph,  '  It  is  possible,  but 
very  difficult  to  get  to  Virginia  now.'  As  I  am 
not  aware  how  important  it  is  to  get  the  children 
to  Virginia,  I  am  unable  to  advise  you  in  the  mat- 
ter, but  have  merely  set  down  the  facts  in  relation 
thereto.  If  the  children  do  leave,  may  I  ask  the 
favor  of  you  to  write,  or  telegraph  me. 
"  Very  respectfully, 

"W.  T.  Walters." 

Finally  the  arrangements  being  all  made  we 
started  off  on  our  adventures — being  placed  by 
my  Uncle  in  charge  of  a  responsible  gentleman, 
who  was  to  take  us  to  Baltimore,  and  deliver  us 
into  the  care  of  Mr.  Walters. 

We  were  cautioned  to  be  very  quiet,  to  express 
nothing  at  what  we  heard  or  saw,  and  to  be  as 
unobtrusive  as  possible  in  our  demeanor.  I  shall 
never  forget  my  emotions  the  day  we  started.  In 
the  crown  of  my  hat  I  had  concealed  a  package 


64  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

of  letters  to  be  delivered  in  Richmond,  and  my 
importance  in  my  own  estimation  was  not  a  little 
enhanced  by  the  possession  of  this  delightful  secret. 
We  made  the  journey  to  Baltimore  without 
mishap  or  adventures  of  any  kind — and  when  we 
reached  the  station,  and  alighted  from  the  car,  I 
noticed  a  gentleman  eagerly  scanning  the  passen- 
gers, as  they  passed  him.  As  we  approached  he 
came  forward,  asked  a  question  in  an  undertone, 
which  was  answered  with  equal  caution,  and  we 
were  hurried  into  a  carriage,  and  driven  rapidly 
to  Mr.  Walters'  house  on  Mt.  Vernon  place,  where 
we  were  received  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walters  with 
the  greatest  cordiality  and  affection.  On  refresh- 
ing ourselves  after  our  journey,  we  were  taken  in 
to  dinner,  where  my  eyes  fairly  danced  with 
delight  at  beholding  in  a  wine  glass  at  each  cover, 
a  dear  little  Confederate  flag;  placed  there  in 
honor  of  the  two  little  guests.  After  a  short 
period  our  kind  host  and  hostess  bid  us  goodbye, 
and  we  were  again  on  our  travels;  it  not  being 
deemed  safe  for  us  to  remain  in  Baltimore. 

Mr.  Walters'  brother  now  took  charge  of  us,  and 
we  were  rapidly  driven  six  or  seven  miles  in  the 
country,  to  a  hotel  called  "  Paradise,"  near  Catons- 
ville — and  a  veritable  "  Paradise  "  it  proved  to  the 
two  tired  little  children  who  were  received  with 
open  arms  by  the  kind  ladies  at  the  hotel.  There 
we  spent  the  night,  and  in  the  morning  were  again 
on  our  travels. 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY   65 

On  taking  the  train  near  the  Relay  House  we 
found  on  board  a  number  of  the  members  of  the 
Maryland  Legislature,  on  their  way  to  Frederick, 
at  which  place  the  Governor  had  convened  the 
Legislature;  Annapolis,  the  capital  of  the  State, 
being  under  the  control  of  Federal  troops.  When 
we  reached  the  Point  of  Rocks,  we  left  the  train, 
and  had  dinner  at  the  country  tavern,  where  we 
sat  at  table  with  a  number  of  Federal  soldiers,  our 
appearance  under  such  circumstances,  exciting 
no  little  interest  and  curiosity.  Mr.  Walters  had 
with  him  an  "open  sesame,"  in  the  shape  of  a 
pass  from  General  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of 
War ;  and  we  were  given  every  facility  to  proceed 
on  our  journey.  At  a  signal,  which  had  of  course 
been  pre-arranged,  a  boat  put  off  from  the  Virginia 
side,  bearing  a  white  flag  of  truce,  and  our  sensa- 
tions may  be  imagined  as  we  saw  the  little  craft 
approaching,  which  was  to  bear  us  over  the  swift, 
beautiful  river  into  the  dear  land  of  "Dixie." 
Our  luggage  being  put  on  board  we  soon  followed, 
and  were  rowed  across  the  river  without  mishap. 
On  reaching  the  shore  we  found  a  large  comfort- 
able carriage  and  a  pair  of  horses  waiting  for  us, 
and  we  were  soon  driving  through  a  deep  woods, 
where  the  sweet  air  and  refreshing  shade  were  very 
grateful  after  the  glare,  dust  and  heat  of  our  jour- 
ney. It  seemed  like  a  story  in  fairyland,  where 
the  magic  of  the  good  fairy,  at  every  turn,  provides 
the    thing   most   needed.     Being   furnished   with 


66  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

fresh  horses,  we  travelled  almost  all  night,  stopping 
to  rest  but  a  few  hours ;  and  then  taking  the  train 
at  Gordonsville,  arrived  in  Richmond  in  the  after- 
noon. We  drove  at  once  to  the  SpotswoodJIotel^ 
to  join  my  mother.  Not  knowing  the  hour  we 
would  arrive,  she  had  gone  out  to  the  Camp  of  the 

majidmg,  to  witness  the  presentation  by  the  Presi- 
dent of  a  beautiful  Texas  State  Flag,  which  she 
had  made  for  the  Regiment.  Nothing  must  do 
but  we  must  follow,  as  soon  as  possible.  When 
we  reached  the  camp  the  ceremony  was  over,  and 
my  father  was  reviewing  his  Regiment. 

As  the  carriage  stopped,  word  was  carried  for- 
ward of  our  arrival — and  we  were  immediately 
surrounded  by  numbers  of  friends,  eager  to  greet 
the  little  travellers;  and  my  father,  hurriedly  dis- 
mounting from  his  horse,  and  leaving  the  regiment 
in  charge  of  another  officer,  rushed  forward  to 
meet  us!  He  returned  with  us  to  Richmond,  and 
there,  as  we  reached  the  Spotswood,  coming  down 
the  stairs,  we  saw  my  mother;  her  beautiful  face 
lit  up  with  joy,  and  her  fair  arms  held  out  to  wel- 
come us.  She  was  clad,  I  remember,  in  a  lilac- 
colored  gown,  of  some  soft  material,  made  in  the 
fashion  of  the  day,  with  the  long  angel  sleeves 
falling  away  at  the  shoulder,  while  a  filmy  lace 
cape  covered  her  neck,  leaving  the  throat  bare.  As 
I  remember  her  that  day,  I  love  best  to  think  of 
her.     Then  we  were   feted   and  caressed   to   our 


FEMININE  SPIRIT  OF  CONFEDERACY   67 

heart's  content;  took  tea  with  the  President  and 
his  party  that  night,  where  our  heads  were  com- 
pletely turned  by  the  attentions  shown  us,  and 
where  we  gave,  to  an  appreciative  audience,  a  full 
account  of  all  our  adventures  "  coming  through 
the  lines" — and  the  one  query  from  all  our  eager 
auditors  was,  "  What  do  they  think  of  the  battle  of 
Manassas?" 


SOUTHERN  BELLES  AND  SOUTHERN 
SOLDIERS 


CHAPTER  V 
Southern  Belles  and  Southern  Soldiers 

LETTER    FROM    GENERAL    BEAUREGARD THE    " CARY    INVIN- 

CIBLES" TURNER        ASHBY WILLIAM        PEGRAM JOHN 

PELHAM WILLIAM    LATANE "  THE    SEVEN   DAYS   BATTLE 

AROUND    RICHMOND." 

On  July  8th,  about  two  weeks  before  this  time, 
General  Beauregard  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
my  father  in  Richmond: 

"Manassas  Junction,  Va., 

"July  8th,   1 86 1. 
"My  dear  Col, 

"  I  believe  we  are  about  to  be  attacked  by  the 
enemy,  who  has  been  increasing  his  forces  rapidly 
in  the  last  few  days.  He  no  doubt  has  at  present 
on  this  side  of  the  Potomac  at  least  30,000  men — 
and  probably  as  many  in  or  about  Washington; 
and  I  am  informed  on  good  authority,  that  he  is 
crossing  over  reinforcements  in  large  numbers 
every  night;  so  that  very  shortly  we  probably  will 
be  attacked  by  about  40,000  men!  What  do  you 
suppose  is  my  effective  force  to  resist  this  attack? 
About  15,000  effective  men!  How  can  it  be 
expected  that  I  should  be  able  to  maintain  my 
ground,  unless  reinforced,  and  that  immediately? 

7i 


y  ■ 


/ 


f 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 


jT  I  am  determined  to  give  the  enemy  battle  no  matter 
j^  at  what  odds  against  us — but  is  it  right  and  proper 
to  sacrifice  so  many  valuable  lives  (and  perhaps 
our  cause)  without  the  least  prospect  of  success? 
"  I  think  not;  but  I  hope  that  it  will  delay  the 
forward  movement  of  the  enemy,  and  give  our 
friends  time  to  come  to  the  rescue ! 

"  I  have  applied  two  or  three  times  for  the  most 

K      essential  things  required  here.     To  obtain  any- 

[JK.  thing  with   despatch,    I   have  to   send  a  special 

messenger   to    Richmond.     Is   that   the   way   to 

direct  and  control  the  operations  of  an  army  in  the 

field  ?     Cannot  that  evil  be  remedied  ?     I  am  sure 

it  could,  if  properly  represented  to  the   President. 

"  I  am  afraid  General  Johnston  is  no  better  off 

than  I  am — but  his  section  of  the  country  is,  I 

believe,  more  easily  defended,  being  wooded  and 

mountainous. 

"  My  troops  are  in  fine  spirits  and  anxious  for  a 
fight!  Jlriey  seem  to  have  the  most  unbounded 
confidence  in  me! 

"  Oh!  that  I  had  the  genius  of  a  Napoleon  to  be 
more  worthy  of  our  cause  and  of  their  confidence! 
If  I  can  only  get  the  enemy  to  attack  me — as  I  am 
trying  to  have  done — I  will  stake  my  reputation 
on  the  handsomest  victory  that  could  be  desired. 
"  Yours  very  truly, 

"G.  T.  Beauregard." 

"Col.  L.  T.  Wigfall, 

"  Member  of  C.  S.  Congress,  Richmond,  Va." 


BELLES  AND  SOLDIERS  73 

From  Richmond,  July  21st  my  mother  writes: 

"  No  news  except  that  Gen.  Johnston  has  joined 
Beauregard  with  a  large  force.  A  part  of  his 
troops  are  left  still  at  Winchester,  but  the  greater 
part  are  with  him.  The  President  went  down 
to-day,  but  I  don't  know  exactly  in  what  capacity, 
whether  he  will  command  or  not.  .  .  .  The 
troops  are  pouring  in,  and  a  general  battle  at 
Manassas  is  expected  very  soon.  We  brought  up 
by  one  train,  upwards  of  50  prisoners  brought 
from  Winchester,  and  crowds  gathered  on  the 
way,  at  every  roadside  station,  to  see '  the  Yankees.' 
I  was  almost  sorry  for  them."  . .  \l  _±i-~ 

"  9  o'clock.     You  will  have  heard  that  we  have  »       

gained  a  second  victory,  and  a  'glorious  though  fi\<VY\.(AA4 
a  dear  bought  one,'  Mr.  Davis  telegraphs,  at  Manas-   y^ (J^j  CO  *b^S 
sas.     Only  some  of  the  deaths  are  known  as  yet;  « 

Lieut.  Colonel  Johnson  of  the  Hampton  Legion 
and  poor  Col.  Bartow  they  say  are  killed;  Wade 
Hampton  slightly  wounded.  All  Beauregard's 
staff  are  safe.  Poor  Mrs.  Bartow  is  here,  but  does 
not  yet  know  the  sad  tidings.  The  enemy  they 
say  were  in  full  retreat.  All  is  excitement  here 
and  the  people  seem  almost  wild." 
"  2^rdr~~'<'^We""irave  been  in  the  greatest  excite- 
ment over  our  glorious  victory.  I  am  curious  to 
know  what  the  effect  will  be  at  the  North — whether 
they  will  be  panic  stricken  or  exasperated  to  frenzy 
at  such  a  defeat.     Poor  old  Scott!     If  he  had  only 


74  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

died  after  the  Mexican  War,  how  much  better  it 
would  have  been  for  his  military  fame.  They  say 
that  the  trunks  of  some  of  the  men  were  actually 
directed  to  Richmond!  In  the  next  fight  I  sup- 
pose of  course  the  President  will  take  the  field. 
He  got  down  too  late  this  time — just  as  they  had 
begun  to  retreat.     .     .     . 

"  The  fact  is  the  fight  took  place  sooner  than  he 
had  expected,  and  he  had  made  no  preparations 
for  engaging  in  it.  Don't  however  repeat  any- 
thing I  may  say  to  you  on  such  subjects." 

29th.  "I  send  you  the  'Examiner'  of  to-day, 
which  has  full  extracts  from  the  Northern  papers 
— about  the  battle.  Some  of  the  handcuffs  were 
shown  at  the  Hotel,  yesterday,  but  I  did  not  hap- 
pen to  see  them.  'Tis  however  a  fact — how  many 
exactly  I  don't  know — but  there  are  certainly  a 
great  many  taken." 

About  August  10th,  my  father's  command  was 
ordered  to  Manassas,  and  from  there  to  Dumfries,  he 
having  received  in  October  his  commission  as  Brjg» 
.adierGeneral — commanding  the"  Texas  Brigade. 

We  joined  him  at  Dumfries,  a  quaint  little 
village  on  the  Occoquan  river,  and  were  there 
several  months. 

My  father's  headquarters  were  at  the  little 
village  tavern,  where  we  spent  some  happy  weeks, 
going  out  evpry  ajternoonJS  SF;e  ffi^dress  rraraHft 
oft^e.  "Rogimrnte  and  wandering  by  the  lovely 


MISS  VIRGINIA    PEGRAM,   OF  VIRGINIA 
(Mrs.  David  Gregg  Mcintosh,  of  Baltimore) 


BELLES  AND  SOLDIERS  75 


Occoquan  river,  where  the  big  cannon  guarded 
the  shores  from  the  enemy's  approach.  Soon  we 
returned  to  Richmond. 

Congress  was  in  session,  and  my  father  resigned 
his  command,  shortly  after  this,  to  take  his'  seat 
in  the  Confederate  Senate.  I  remember  little  of 
that  journey  to  Richmond,  except  the  sweetness 
of  the  woods  through  which  we  drove  to  the  rail- 
road, and  our  calling  a  halt  under  a  persimmon 
tree,  which  hung  heavy  with  luscious  fruit,  made 
delicious  by  the  severe  frosts  which  had  fallen. 
We  gathered  an  abundant  supply,  and  drove  on 
in  the  crisp  air,  which  we  would  have  enjoyed 
more,  had  it  not  heralded  the  approach  of  winter, 
and  the  rains  and  snows,  which  we  knew  would 
bring  hardships  to  our  brave  soldiers  in  camp. 

The  early  enthusiasm  of  the  first  few  months  of 
the  war  was  now  deepening  into  grim  determina- 
tion^tosucceed,  at  all  ha^al'dtj,  and  Into  a  realiza- 
tion that  WPr  with  all  its  accompanying  horror^ 
was  irrjon  us.  Provisions  r  w^re___be^in»i«g--^fe©-. 
increase  in  price,  and  thp  difficulty  nf  ohiaioiog  sup-, 
plies  of  proper  clothmg1jgas  n1r°n  dy  fr4f 

The  Army  soon  went  into  Winter  Quarters,  and 
the  letters  from  camp  rejoiced  the  hearts  of  anxious 
mothers  with  the  accounts  of  the  snug  contrivances 
for  comfort.  The  luxury  of  sleeping  on  a  board 
floor  was  descanted  on,  and  the  possession  of  a 
stove  promised  warmth  and  comfort  in  the  long 
winter  days  and  nights  of  rain  and  snow.     Rich- 


76  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

mond  was  enlivened,  from  time  to  time,  by  the 
furloughs  granted  to  officers  and  men,  and  opened 
her  hospitable  doors  to  cheer  and  brighten  the 
hours  of  their  brief  holiday. 

The  President  was  inaugurated  on  February 
22  nd  and  many  of  the  officers  had  leave  for  a  few 
days  to  witness  the  ceremony,  which  made  it  a  gay 
week  in  Richmond. 

11    -  ■■■  -    -    in  ,  __       1  

Many  of  the  private  jjaojasss  re^i^erl  hnaH*rc, 
as  the  reductionjnjhr  pnrrhnmng  pnwrr  of  thrir 
incomes,  through  the  depreciation  of  i^j-urr^nny , 
was  already  "severely  felt  by  the  people.  Yet  this 
was  not  done  forty  cc>Vo  ^f  paa&t  nlPT"!  The 
enormous  influx  of  strangers  from  other  states  had 
to  be  accommodated.  These  were  brought  here 
by  the  presence  of  the  Government,  and  the 
proximity  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  which 
drew  to  Richmond  hosts  of  anxious  relatives,  who 
waited  through  the  weary  weeks  and  months  for 
occasional  tidings,  and  possible  glimpses  of  their 
loved  ones. 

Social  pleasures,  however,  were  not  neglected, 
anefmusic  and  song  and  the  dance  made  merry  the 
hearts  of  the  gallant  soldier  boys,  who  came  from 
the  wet,  and  mud,  and  discomfort  of  the  camp. 

Among  the  many  lovely  women  in  Richmond  at 
this  time  were  the  two  Misses  Cary,  of  Baltimore, 
and  their  cousin,  Miss  Constance  Cary,  of  Virginia. 
The  former  two  had  come  across  the  lines  after 
experiencing  many   thrilling   adventures   on   the 


MISS   MARY  HAXALL,  OF    VIRGINIA 

(Mrs.  Alexander  Cameron,  of  Richmond) 
(This  and  the  following  are  portraits  of  schoolmates  of  the  author) 


BELLES  AND  SOLDIERS 


77 


way.  In  a  letter  written  at  the  time  I  find  the 
following:  "  The  young  ladies  who  seem  to  be  the 
greatest  belles  are  the  Miss  Carys,  of  Baltimore 
.  .  .  They  are  very  beautiful  and  are  commonly 
known  by  the  name  of  the  '  Cary  Invincibles.'  " 

Constance  Cary  was  also  a  very  lovely  girl,  and 
even  in  those  days  was  noted  for  a  facile  pen,  which 
from  time  to  time  delighted  her  many  friends  with 
charming  little  productions.  Miss  Cary,  as  is 
well  known,  married  Mr.  Burton  Harrison,  Presi- 
dent Davis's  private  secretary,  and  has  since 
attained  widespread  note  from  the  clever  fictions 
of  which  she  is  the  author. 

In  the   meantime,   my   sister  and  myself  had 
been    entered    at    Miss    Peg-ram' s    on    Franklin 
Street,  which  was  then  the  fashionable  school  in 
Richmond.     With  all  the  distractions  ol  the  time 
it  was  hard  work  to  keep  the  girls  at  their  books.  C^J^ 
It  was  difficult  to  fasten  one's  attention  on  ancient    kT)     N^ 
history  and  "  belles  lettres,"  when  such  very  modern     ^  ^  ^iS>**/*^\ 
history  was  being  made  in  our  midst,  and  such         .  olixb 
"  beaux  soldats  "  were  marching,  with  drums  beat-  S^>\ 
ing,  and  banners  flying,  by  our  very  doors.     Rich- 
mond has  always  been  famed  for  its  lovely  women, 
but  I  venture  to  assert  that  there  has  never  been 
a  larger  assembly  of  beauties  than  that  collected 
at  Miss  Pegram's  School  during  the  war. 

Early  in  the  spring,  rumors  were  rife  in  Rich- 
mond of  the  approach  of  McClellan's  army  and  in 
May  the  great  battle  of  Seven  Pines  was  fought, 


78  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

when  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  was  wounded, 
and  after  which  General  Lee  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

There  were  four  brilliant  young  soldiers  in  that 
great  army  who  especially  held  the  love  and 
admiration  of  the  people — Turner  Ashby,  com- 
manding General  Stonewall  Jackson's  Cavalry; 
William  Pegram,  the  "Boy  Artillerist";  John 
Pelham,  commanding  Stuart's  Horse  Artillery,  the 
"  Gallant  Pelham,"  as  General  Lee  called  him;  and 
William  Latane.  Each  in  turn  was  to  immortalize 
his  name  and  glorify  the  good  cause  for  which  he 
fought,  and  each  in  turn,  amid  the  din  of  battle 
and  the  shouts  of  victory,  was  to  give  his  life  for 
his  country. 

William  Latane  lost  his  life,  June  13,  1862,  "lead- 
ing his  squadron  in  a  brilliant  and  successful 
charge,  the  enemy  routed  and  flying  before  him" 
— so  writes  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  in  his  order, 
and  adds  "  his  regiment  will  want  no  better  battle 
cry,  than  'Avenge  Latane.'"  General  Robert  E. 
Lee  announces  the  victory  with  "the  loss  of  but 
one  man,  the  lamented  Captain  Latane."  The 
following  account  of  the  burial  and  the  peculiar 
circumstances  surrounding  it,  were  given  to  me 
by  a  member  of  the  family  and  is  repeated  here 
almost  verbatim.  "John  Latane,  a  lieutenant  in 
his  brother's  company,  took  charge  of  the  body 
and  with  a  cart  and  driver  tried  to  return  to  Rich- 
mond.    Finding  this  impossible,  as  the  enemy  were 


juan,  *^k    '^^P^"'^3t^ 

^*R 

r*  •'••  II 

u*^s£ 

>*1 

's^flra 

■ 

*■              "    2S 

-9!  ^Kv  - 

(t  ' 

j£\              :■      W' 

• 

In 

|*il 

m               :]m? 

/      ^l».  ^  iS 

rfSr    CI  ^   ' 

Photo  by  Anderson,  Ki. 

MISS  MARY  TRIPLETT,  OF  VIRGINIA 
(Mis.  Philip  Haxall,  of  Richmond) 


BELLES  AND  SOLDIERS  79 

in  the  possession  of  the  country  all  around — he 
went  to  'Westwood,'  the  home  of  Dr.  Broken- 
brough,  who  was  then  a  surgeon  in  the  Army. 
The  enemy  approached  and  he,  to  avoid  capture, 
was  obliged  to  leave  his  brother's  remains  and 
escape  on  foot." 

Then  followed  the  scene  "portrayed  by  Wash- 
ington's brush  and  Thompson's  pen" — and  also 
described  in  a  private  letter,  which,  after  the  war, 
was  published  in  Blackwood's  Magazine  and  is  now 
given  here. 

"Mrs.  Brokenbrough  sent  for  an  Episcopal 
clergyman  to  perform  the  funeral  ceremonies,  but 
the  enemy  would  not  permit  him  to  pass.  Then 
with  a  few  other  ladies,  a  fair  haired  little  girl, 
her  apron  filled  with  white  flowers,  and  a  few  faith- 
ful slaves  who  stood  reverently  near,  a  pious  Vir- 
ginia matron  read  the  solemn  and  beautiful  burial 
service  over  the  cold,  still  form  of  one  of  the  noblest 
gentlemen  and  most  intrepid  officers  in  the  Con- 
federate Army.  She  watched  the  clods  heaped 
upon  the  coffin  lid;  then  sinking  on  her  knees,  in 
sight  and  hearing  of  the  foe,  she  committed  his 
soul's  welfare  and  the  stricken  hearts  he  had  left 
behind  him  to  the  mercy  of  the  All-Father." 

John  R.  Thompson  writes  in  the  closing  stanza 
of  his  poem: 

"  And  when  Virginia,  leaning  on  her  spear, 
'  Victrix  et  Vidua,'  the  conflict  done; 
Shall  raise  her  mailed  hand  to  wipe  the  tear, 


8o  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

That  starts  as  she  recalls  each  martyred  Son, 
No  dearer  memory  shall  hold  its  sway 
Than  thine,  beloved,  '  lamented  Latane.'  " 

Among  my  papers  I  find  next  a  letter  written 
by  my  mother  after  an  illness,  during  that  awful 
time  known  as  "The  Seven  Days  Battle  around 
Richmond."  "~ 

"Richmond,  June  25th,  1862. 

".  .  .  I  am  getting  a  great  deal  better,  and 
went  out  this  afternoon  to  take  a  drive  with  your 
Y  m- father.  We  stopped  at  Genl.  Johnston's  to  see 
how  he  was,  and  Mrs.  Johnston  came  out  and  sat 
in  the  carriage  with  me.  He  is  recovering  rapidly, 
but  will  not  be  in  the  fight,  which  has  in  fact, 
begun.  There  has  been  very  heavy  firing  all  the 
afternoon,  and  there  will  be  a  regular  attack  made 
at  daybreak  to-morrow,  if  the  present  plan  is  fol- 
lowed out.  I  presume  it  will  be,  as  Genl.  Jack- 
son is  to  move  into  position  to-night,  and  of  course, 
has  to  be  supported.  This  was  agreed  upon  last 
night.  What  has  caused  the  fight  this  afternoon 
we  do  not  know — but  I  trust  it  is  all  right.  Jack- 
son and  his  forces  are  to  make  the  attack  on  the 
rear,  and  I  trust  it  has  all  been  so  planned  that 
McClellan  will  find  himself  glad  enough  to  take  the 
road  away  from,  instead  of  on  to  Richmond." 

"Thursday  26th. 
"  I  wrote  you  your  father  had  acted  as  Aide  to 
Genl.  Longstreet.     After  we  got  home  last  even- 


MISS    LELIA    POWERS,    OF    VIRGINIA 
(Mrs.  W.  Stuart  Symington,  of  Baltimore) 


BELLES  AND  SOLDIERS  81 

ing,  your  father  determined  to  go  to  Genl.  Long- 
street's  Headquarters,  to  see  if  there  had  been 
any  change  in  the  programme  since  the  night 
before.  He  did  not  get  back  till  nearly  twelve 
o'clock — and  at  that  time,  the  original  plan  was 
to  be  carried  out — and  he  accordingly  was  off  at 
four  o'clock  this  morning.  Strange  to  say,  how- 
ever, there  seems  to  be  an  impression  in  town,  that 
there  has  been  no  fighting  to-day;  not  a  gun  has 
been  heard,  and  everyone  has  been  on  the  lookout 
for  tidings.  Halsey  came  in  just  before  dinner 
and  he  has  heard  nothing  of  it — so  I  am  afraid  (I 
was  going  to  say)  that  something  has  disconcerted 
the  plan  and  I  feel  quite  impatient  for  your  father's 
return.  He  said  he  would  be  back  some  time 
to-night." 

"Friday  night,  27th. 
"  Yesterday  afternoon  I  took  a  drive  with  Hal- 
sey and  as  soon  as  we  got  on  Church  Hill  we  heard 
the  cannon  and  it  seems  the  fight  had  begun  at 
3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  instead  of  at  daylight 
as  it  had  been  arranged.  Your  father  got  back 
after  twelve  last  night.  The  news  was  all  good, 
as  you  have  seen,  I  suppose.  We  had  driven  them 
from  Mechanicsville  and  taken  several  batteries, 
etc.  The  battle  was  to  be  renewed  this  morning 
at  daybreak,  and  accordingly,  off  went  Papa,  and 
I  don't  expect  to  see  him  again  until  midnight  or 
maybe  to-morrow.  Robert  Nicholas,  however, 
told  me  about  sundown  that  he  had  left  him  well 


82  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

an  hour  or  two  before  and  that  the  Yankees  had 
been  driven  back  six  miles.  All  the  accounts  we 
have  yet  received,  altho'  meagre,  yet  agree  that 
we  are  in  hot  pursuit  and  the  enemy  trying  to  get 
away.  God  grant  that  our  victory  may  be  com- 
plete! I  will  write  more  to-morrow  when  I  can 
tell  you  what  your  father  says.     Good  night." 

"Saturday,  28th. 

"Your  father  did  not  come  last  night,  dear.L. 
I  got  a  note  from  him  early  this  morning.  Thank 
God,  he  was  unhurt!  and  remained  to  look  up  our 
wounded  Texans.  So  far  our  victory  has  been 
brilliant,  but  oh!  at  what  sacrifice  of  life!  Poor 
Col.  Marshall  (1st  Texas)  is  killed;  so  is  Lieut. 
Col.  Warwick.  His  poor  mother's  heart  will  be 
broken,  I  fear.  (He  was  an  only  child.)  The 
Major  of  the  Regiment,  too,  is  dangerously 
wounded.  Genl.  Hood  is  not  hurt  or  was  not 
when  your  father  wrote.  God  grant  your  father 
may  be  safe  now!  He  expected  to  be  up  all  night 
collecting  and  caring  for  our  wounded.  We  have 
heard  no  cannon  to-day  and  don't  know  whether 
the  fighting  has  continued  or  not.  Cousin  Lewis 
has  just  been  here  and  says  he  hears  1,500  prisoners 
have  already  arrived,  and  among  them  2  generals. 
There  are  all  sorts  of  reports,  one,  that  we  have 
taken  eighty  officers  above  the  rank  of  major. 
Your  father  thought  the  battle  would  be  over  to- 
day.    I  am  almost  afraid  to  believe  it.     Halsey 


Photo  by  E.  Berkeley,  Staunton,  Va. 

MISS    EVELYN   BAYLY,  OF    VIRGINIA 
(Mrs.  Louis  McLane  Tiffany,  of  Baltimore) 


BELLES  AND  SOLDIERS  S3 

has  not  been  at  all  in  the  direction  of  the  fight. 
He  is  guarding  the  batteries  on  the  extreme  right, 
and  the  contest  has  all  been  on  the  left.  He  has 
got  his  commission  for  2nd  Lieutenant — or  rather, 
I  have  got  it  here  for  him." 

"Sunday,   29th. 

"Another  note  from  your  dear  father  this  morn- 
ing. It  was  written  last  night,  the  other  side  of 
the  Chickahominy  at  Headquarters.  He  says 
they  were  still  driving  the  enemy  before  them  and 
that  operations  would  begin  again  at  daybreak,  and 
that  he  hoped  it  would  be  over  to-day.  I  shall 
not  expect  him  back  until  it  is  entirely  concluded. 
He  says  the  slaughter  has  been  terrible,  but  our  f>T"5> -^Jo^-* 
success  glorious."  utagn^"  *""  ^V"" 

Subjoined  is  a  short  note  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  ,     s**.' 

James  Chesnut,  the  wife  of  Senator  Chesnut,  of 
South  Carolina.  Mrs.  Chesnut  was  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  women  of  her  time  and  as  warm- 
hearted as  clever,  as  is  shown  by  this  little  note. 
If  she  had  written  a  volume  the  tragedy  of  which 
she  told  could  not  have  been  more  graphically 
described. 

"My  dear  friend, 

"  My  heart  is  heavier  to-day  than  it  has  been 
since  this  murderous  war  began.  I  daresay  I  have 
told  you,  over  and  oyer,  as  I  always  talk  of  what 
is  uppermost,  that  my  cronies  in  Columbia,  my 


84  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  *6i 

bosom  friends,  were  Mrs.  Preston,  Mrs.  McCord 
and  Mrs.  Izard.  Captain  Cheves  McCord,  only 
son  of  my  friend,  lies  dead  at  a  Mr.  Meyers'  only  a 
few  doors  below  us.  I  did  not  know  he  was  here. 
Mr.  Chesnut  had  a  letter  from  him  yesterday  dated 
Fredericksburg.  He  was  wounded  at  the  Second 
Manassas,  two  balls  in  his  leg,  and  one  in  his  head. 
Contrary  to  the  advice  of  his  doctors,  he  had 
rejoined  his  company,  and  this  is  the  end.  He 
died  in  convulsions  from  a  pressure  on  the  brain. 
His  mother  is  expected  by  every  train — poor  thing 
— I  could  not  sleep  for  thinking  of  her.  She 
seemed  to  have  but  one  thought  in  this  world — 
'  My  Son.'  He  is  barely  twenty-one — is  married — 
his  wife  a  beautiful  girl — unfortunate  and  miser- 
able and  wretched  is  it  all! 

".  .  .  I  will  try  to  see  you  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, but  I  will  not,  as  I  had  hoped,  take  the  box 
with  you.  This  unhappy  boy,  lying  dead  so  near 
me,  makes  the  thought  of  theatres  hateful  to  me 
just  now.  ...  I  feel  you  are  too  true  hearted 
a  mother  not  to  sympathize. 

"Your  friend,  M.  B.  C." 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE 


MISS  BERTHA   RIVES.  OF  VIRGINIA 

(Mrs.  Thomas  Keith  Skinker,  of  St.  Louis) 


CHAPTER  VI 
War  Time  Correspondence 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS  WRITES  TO  L.  T.  WIGFALL — NOTES  FROM 

GENERAL  LONGSTREET  AND  GENERAL  LEE HOME  GOSSIP 

PRINCE  POLIGNAC LETTERS  FROM  GENERAL  HOOD 

FROM  THE  AUTHOR'S  BROTHER  IN  CAMP  NEAR  FRED- 
ERICKSBURG  FROM   GENERAL   JOHNSTON FROM   THE 

AUTHOR'S  FATHER FROM  J.  A.  SEDDON. 

The  autumn  opened  with  dispiriting  news  from 
the  West.  .Beauregard  had  been  superseded  and 
rumors  were  rife  that  a  demand  had  been  made 
on  the  administration  for  the  removal  of  General 
Bragg.  While  we  did  not  know  certainly  that 
this  was  a  fact,  there  was  no  question  but  that 
dissatisfy "tinn  was  fejt  in  many  quarters  with  ^ 
President  Davis's  pphVy  and  r.onrluet  of  affairs,        S- 

my  father's  intimacy  with  him  began  to  r\^orR»^R ^     S. 

anH    strained    relations    to    take    the    place    of  J 

their  former  friendship.  Notes  asking  for  con- 
sultations to  discuss  pressing  matters  which  for- 
merly began  "Dear  Wigfall" — as  the  time  ran  on 
into  the  autumn  were  commenced  "My  dear  Sir." 

One  of  these  letters  is  given. 

87 


88  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

"  Executive  Mansion, 

"Richmond,  Va., 
"Genl.  L.  T.  Wigfall,  "Oct.  n,  1862. 

"My  dear  Sir: 
"  It  has  been  suggested  to  me  that  you  thought 
Holmes  had  failed  in  his  duty  at  Malvern  Hill,  by 
being  too  slow  in  getting  into  position,  and  in  that 
connection  I  wish  to  say  to  you  that  he  was 
ordered  up  from  his  position  on  the  South  side  of 
James  River  to  aid  in  the  attack  upon  McClellan's 
Army  and  if  possible  to  prevent  it  from  reaching 
the  James  River.  It  being  then  supposed  that  the 
enemy  would  endeavor  to  reach  a  landing  some 
distance  above  Curl's  Neck.  He  moved  down  the 
River  Road,  taking  Gen.  Wise  and  his  brigade  with 
him,  to  the  position  indicated,  where  I  found  him 
on  Monday  morning,  most  advantageously  posted. 
He  had  made  a  thorough  reconnoissance  and  fully 
explained  to  me  his  position  and  plan  of  operations. 
He  was  then  about  a  mile  to  the  right  of  the  place 
where  I  found  you  with  Gen.  Longstreet's  staff 
and  where  I  met  Genl.  Lee.  Genl.  Lee  had  ascer- 
tained that  the  enemy  was  taking  a  different  route 
by  what  was  known  as  the  Quaker  Road  and  he 
ordered  Genl.  Holmes  to  advance  and  take  position 
on  that  road  to  intercept  the  enemy's  retreat.  He 
did  so  promptly,  and  waited  at  the  place  indicated 
with  his  infantry  for  the  approach  of  the  enemy. 
They  did  not  come,  but  halted  and  offered  battle 
before  reaching  Poindexter's  farm.     Genl.  Holmes 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE        89 

thus  fulfilled  all  his  orders  and  proved  as  well  his 
gallantry,  as  his  candor,  by  subsequently  express- 
ing his  regret  that  no  one  knew  enough  of  the 
ground  to  have  indicated  to  him  what  afterward 
was  found  to  have  been  feasible,  to  wit,  an  attack 
upon  the  enemy's  left  and  rear.  It  may  be  that 
such  remarks  have  led  you  to  suppose  that  he  was 
directed  to  do  something  which  he  failed  to  per- 
form. If  so,  I  am  sure  that  your  fairness  needs 
only  to  have  the  facts  distinctly  pointed  out  to 
you.  Genl.  Lee  reconnoitred  the  ground  as  far 
as  he  was  able  and  I  did  the  same  thing  in  person 
— whilst  Genl.  Holmes  was  in  position  and  under 
a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  gunboats.  Genl. 
Lee  certainly  attributed  no  shortcoming  to  Genl. 
Holmes  and  it  never  occurred  to  me  that  any  blame 
was  fairly  to  be  attached  to  him.  I  write  this  in 
justice  to  the  individual  but  am  urged  much  more 
by  the  consciousness  of  his  peculiar  fitness  for  the 
command  to  which  he  has  been  assigned. 

"Your  friend  Jeffer.  Davis." 

In  a  letter  from  Genl.  Longstreet  allusion  is 
made  to  the  break  in  the  friendship  between  my 
father  and  the  President. 

"CulpeperC.  H.,  Nov.  7th,  1862. 
"  My  dear  General, 

"  Your  kind  favor  of  1 7th  ulto.  was  duly  received. 
I  have  been  waiting  to  have  your  son's  decision 
before  writing.     .     . 


9o  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

"  I  heard  yesterday  that  you  and  the  President 
had  had  an  unpleasant  interview.  It  is  no  business 
of  mine,  but  I  would  like  to  take  the  liberty  to  beg 
you  not  to  allow  anything  to  bring  about  any 
difference  between  you.  We  think  that  all  our 
hopes  rest  upon  you  and  the  hopes  of  the  country 
rest  upon  the  army.  You  will  readily  perceive 
what  weight  you  have  to  carry.  Most  truly  and 
sincerely  yours,  «j    B    Longstreet." 

October  found  us  delightfully  situated  in  a  com- 
fortable   house    on    Grace    Street.     General    and 
Mrs.   Joseph  E.   Johnston,   ourselves,   and  Major 
'  ^  Banks,  composed  our  "Mess."     The  house  stood 

pT  back  from  the  street  with  a  large  garden  in  front, 

N§_,  now,  in  the  fall,  fragrant  with  the  aromatic  scent 

<§°  of  that  sweetest  of  all  flowers,  the  white  chrysanthe- 

mum, which  grew  in  great  profusion  in  the  old- 
fashioned  borders.  General  Johnston  was  still 
suffering  from  his  wound  and  too  unwell  to  report 
for  duty  for  some  weeks.  One  great  trouble  in 
I^chmond_  during  the  winter  of^2  was  xhe  wanx 
of  fuel,  and  prices  began  to  mount  up  fabulously , 
and  the  suffering  among  the  poor  was  great.  Our 
men  in  the  field,  too,  began  to  feel  the  difficulty  of 
getting  warm  overcoats  and  proper  clothing. 

The  snow  began  as  early  as  November  9th.  I 
say  in  a  letter  to  jray-ksQtkeiLQf  this  date : 

"We  had  quite  a  snow-storm  day  before  yester- 
day, and  it  is  still  very  cold.     I  am  afraid  our  poor 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE        91 

soldiers  will  suffer  dreadfully  from  the  weather 
this  winter,  as  I  heard  yesterday  that  we  had 
upwards  of  10,000  men  without  shoes! 

"  Genl.  Johnston  is  improving,  and  speaks  of 
reporting  for  duty  in  two  weeks,  but  Papa  says 
he  doubts  if  he  is  able." 

".  .  .  November  14th. 
"  Mama  sends  you  by  Capt.  Sellers  the  buffalo 
robe  and  blanket  and  also  a  cake  of  soap,  which 
will  be  sufficient  for  present  emergencies— and  as 
soon  as  another  occasion  offers  she  will  send  some 
more.  Mama  says  as  soap  is  $1.25  a  cake  you 
must  economise!  Capt.  Sellers  will  also  take  the 
flag  that  Mama  has  had  made  for  the  1st  Texas; 
the  tassel  on  it  is  one  taken  by  Col.  Brewster, 
from  the  field  of  Shiloh,  just  where  Sidney  John- 
ston fell,  and  of  course  therefore  enhances  the  value 
of  the  flag.  We  are  expecting  to  leave  Richmond 
next  week  for  Amelia,  to  return  in  January  when 
Congress  meets.  Genl.  Johnston  reported  for 
duty  yesterday  and  we  suppose  he  will  be  given 
command  of  the  Department  of  the  West.  They 
are  expecting  to  leave  by  Wednesday  of  next 
week,  so  you  see  there  will  be  a  general  breaking 
up  of  our  nice  little  'Mess.'  I  am  really  very 
sorry;  for  Mrs.  Johnston  is  a  sweet  lovely  person. 
.  .  .  Mama  has  promised  to  leave  us  with 
her  next  Summer  when  she  and  Papa  go  back  to 
Texas.     There    have    been    several    distinguished 


92  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

visitors    at    our    house    last    week — viz.,    Prince 

Polignac;  an  M.  P.;  and  our  Bishop  General  Polk. 

Yesterday    Major    Daniel    (Examiner)    and    Col. 

Myers  dined  here.  Mrs.  Elzey  and  the  General 
*\\  were  here  evening  before  last:  he  is  to  have  another 
£r  operation  performed  on  his  jaw,  poor  fellow,  and 

he  looks  miserably." 

It  was  now  a  frequent  occurrence  for  foreigners 
of  distinction  to  come  to  the  Confederacy  and  in 
many  instances  to  enter  the  army  and  fight 
valiantly  for  the_.cause.  Prince  Polignac  was  a 
typical  Frenchman  in  appearance;  a  fiery  little 
man;  erect  in  figure  with  a  keen  black  eye,  white 
teeth  that  showed  brilliantly  when  he  smiled, 
and  a  dark  waxed  mustache  which  lent  a  fierce- 
ness to  his  expression  that  I  remember  impressed 
me  very  much.  He  offered  his  services  to  the 
Government,  and  was  given  the  command  of  a 
brigade  of  Texans  in  the  Western  Army.  And 
just  here  comes  an  anecdote  which  I  cannot  for- 
bear telling,  as  an  illustration  of  American  humor 
in  general,  and  Texas  wit  in  particular. 

It  needs  little  reflection  to  see  how  the  peculiar 
name  of  Polignac  would  strike  the  ear  of  the  irrev- 
erent Texan,  with  the  evident  possibility,  not  to 
say  necessity,  of  ludicrous  transposition.  And 
it  is  equally  evident  that  the  name,  at  once  suggest- 
ing itself  as  appropriate,  was  that  of  the  little 
animal  which  bears  such  a  malodorous  reputation. 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE        93 

Probably,  most  of  these  Texan  soldiers  had  never 
seen  a  Frenchman  before;  they  had  never  tested 
Prince  Polignac's  prowess.  He  was  certainly, 
both  in  appearance  and  manners,  unlike  any  of 
the  Rangers,  whom  it  had  been  their  happy  fate 
to  follow  in  other  battles,  and  as  they  glanced  at 
the  dapper  little  Frenchman,  they  shook  their 
heads  ominously,  and  with  derisive  laughter 
dubbed  him  "Polecat!"  It  was  impossible  that 
such  a  soubriquet  should  have  been  given  and 
uttered  frequently,  secure  in  the  Prince's  ignorance 
of  the  vocabulary,  without  his  curiosity  being 
aroused,  and  questions  following  which  finally 
discovered  to  him  the  play  upon  his  name,  and 
the  meaning  of  the  word.  He  maintained  a 
discreet  silence,  and  never  revealed  his  knowledge, 
nor  his  indignation,  until  one  day — when  the  bri- 
gade being  ordered  into  battle  he  had  his  revenge. 
As  the  order  was  given  to  charge,  he  raised  himself 
in  his  stirrups  and  brandishing  his  sword  aloft  he 
led  his  men  in  person,  shouting  at  the  top  of  his 
voice,  "Follow  me!  Follow  me!  You  call  me 
'  Polecat,'  I  will  show  you  whether  I  am  '  Polecat ' 
or  'Polignac!'"  And  he  did.  With  an  answer- 
ing shout  they  followed  him,  and  that  battle  over, 
never  had  a  word  of  ridicule  more  for  the  gallant 
little  Frenchman,  who  led  them  on  to  victory. 

1^  cannot  refrain  here  from -paying,  _a  -  tribute  to 
the  Texas  troops  by  giving  a  letter  written  to  my 
father  by  General  Robert  E.  Lee  in  praise  of  them.       f^^O- 


LooaJl 


)i> 


94  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

"Head  Quarters  Army,  W.  Va., 
"  Near   Martinsburg, 
"Gen.  Louis  T.  Wigfall,  "Sept.  21st,  1862. 

"Genl.: 
"  I  have  not  yet  heard  from  you  with  regard  to 
the  new  Texas  Regiments  which  you  promised 
to  endeavor  to  raise  for  this  Army.  I  need  them 
much.  I  rely  upon  these  we  have  in  all  tight 
places  and  fear  I  have  to  call  upon  them  too 
often.  They  have  fought  grandly,  nobly,  and  we 
must  have  more  of  them.  Please  make  every 
possible  exertion  to  get  them  in,  and  send  them 
on  to  me.  You  must  help  us  in  this  matter. 
With  a  few  more  such  regiments  as  those  which 
Hood  now  has,  as  an  example  of  daring  and 
bravery,  I  could  feel  much  more  confident  of  the 
results  of  the  campaign. 

"  Very  respectfully  yours, 
"Official.  "R.  E.  Lee, 

"C.  S.  Venable,  "Genl. 

"Maj.  and  A.  D.  C." 

The  following  characteristic  letter  was  received 
a  little  later  from  General  Hood  alluding  to  these 
same  regiments  from  Texas. 

"Div.  Hd.  Qrts. 

"Near  Culpeper,  Nov.  17,  '62. 
"My  dear  Genl.: 

"  I  wish  you  would  let  me  know  so  soon  as  you 
are  informed  that  the  new  Regiments  are  on  their 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE        95 

way  to  Richmond.  If  they  came  on  as  indepen- 
dent Regiments  I  wish  to  recommend  a  Brig. 
Genl.  for  them.     .     .     . 

"  If  I  can  I  will  come  to  Richmond  about  the 
time  the  Regiments  come  on. 

" .  .  .  Well,  I  think  Mr.  Burnsides  is  coming 
in  a  few  days,  and  what  a  fight!  I  think  we  will 
whip  him  badly.  Our  army  is  in  good  trim  for 
an  old-fashioned  fight. 

"  Give  my  kindest  regards  to  your  family. 
"  Your  friend, 

"Gen.  L.  T.  Wigfall,  "J-  B-  HooD- 

"Richmond,  Va." 

In  a  letter  from  my  brother  dated  Camp,  near 
Winchester,  Oct.  24th,  1862,  he  writes  of  Genl. 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart  and  Stonewall  Jackson. 

"  I  had  a  very  pleasant  visit  to  Rosser's  Camp 
where  I  spent  the  night.  On  my  way  down  I 
met  Genl.  Stuart  and  stopped  and  had  some  con- 
versation. He  was  in  as  high  spirits  as  ever,  and 
told  me  particularly  to  tell  you,  when  I  wrote, 
that  in  his  recent  raid  into  Pennsylvania  he  got 
nothing  but  'Apple  butter'  and  'Dry  water.' 
You  know  he  is  a  '  Total  Abstinence  Man '  in  prac- 
tice. The  next  day  I  rode  down  to  Shepherds- 
town  about  eight  miles  from  Camp  with  Rosser  and 
through  the  town  to  the  river  bank  (the  Potomac) 
where   our   cavalry   pickets    are    stationed.     The 


96  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

Yankees  who  still  picket  entirely  with  infantry 
have  their  lines  on  the  opposite  bank.  While  I 
was  in  that  neighborhood  Jackson's  Corps,  and 
McLaw's  Division  from  this  Corps,  were  hard  at 
work  destroying  the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  They  have  also 
torn  up  the  track  of  the  road  between  Winchester 
and  Harper's  Ferry  and  it  will  be  a  long  time  be- 
for  these  roads  can  be  repaired.  I  put  my  last 
postage  stamp  on  this  letter  and  I  understand 
there  are  none  in  Winchester." 

In  a  letter  from  my  mother  she  writes: 

"Richmond,  Nov.  26th,  1862. 
" .  .  .  Genl.  Johnston  got  his  orders  only 
day  before  yesterday.  He  is  to  have  command 
of  the  three  armies  of  Bragg,  Kirby  Smith  and 
Pemberton,  but  not  West  of  the  Mississippi,  as  I 
understand.  He  expects  to  get  off  on  Saturday, 
and  his  wife  goes  with  him." 

On  the  date  mentioned  Genl.  Johnston  left 
Richmond  for  the  West  and  in  a  letter  from  me 
to  my  brother  dated,  Amelia  Springs,  Dec.  5th, 
1862,  I  find  this  recorded: 

"  Mama  and  Papa  returned  last  Saturday;  they 
having  come  with  General  Johnston  and  staff 
and  Mrs.  Johnston,  on  a  special  train  from  Rich- 
mond, and  parted  from  them  at  this  place. 

" .     .     .     What  is  the  general  impression  as  to 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE        97 

Fredericksburg?  Will  your  battery  be  in  the  en- 
gagement, if  there  is  one?  The  rain  is  pouring 
and  Mama  hopes  it  will  prevent  Burnside  from 
advancing.     .     .     ." 

My   brother   writes   from   camp   the   following 
letter : 

"  Camp,  near  Fredericksburg, 

Nov.  23rd,  1862. 
" .  .  .  We  reached  here  on  yesterday  after- 
noon, having  left  Culpeper  on  Wednesday  about 
twelve  o'clock.  We  were  on  the  road  three  days 
and  a  half,  and  it  rained  every  day  but  the  last. 
So  you  see  that  we  have  been  enjoying  ourselves. 
The  Yanks  were  to  have  begun  the  shelling  of 
Fredericksburg  on  yesterday,  but  they  did  not 
keep  their  word.  We  met  yesterday,  ladies_gn 
foot  in  all  the  mud  and  wet,  fiyg  and  six  miles 
Tr o1m"The*~town ;  the  women  and  children"  having 
been  ordered  to  leave  the  place  in  anticipation  of 
the  opening  of  the  fight.  What  kept  the  enemy 
from  fulfilling  their  threats  I  don't  know.  They 
demanded  a  surrender  and  the  authorities  refused; 
they  then  gave  the  citizens  until  nine  o'clock  the 
next  morning  to  move  out  the  women  and  children : 
they  afterwards  deferred  it  until  two  in  the  after- 
noon, but  when  two  o'clock  came  the  Yankee 
shells  did  not.  The  citizens  in  this  section  from 
all  accounts  have  suffered,  terribly  from  the  pres- 
ence  of  the  Yankees  in  their  midst  and  I  think  are 


98 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 


prepared  to  undergo  any  privations  rather  than 
see  the  enemy  again  among_them. 
"~"T~afti  mucTTobliged  for  the  things  sent  me — 
especially  the  razor,  as  cats  are  very  scarce  in 
camp  and  cream  more  so. 

"We  had  a  magnificent  supper  last  night  con- 
sisting of  preserved  salmon,  sardines,  pepper 
vinegar,  beefsteaks,  biscuits  and  butter  and  real 
coffee.  It  was  quite  a  shock  to  my  system,  I 
assure  you.     .     .     ." 

My  mother  writes: 

"Dec.   5th,   1862. 

" .  .  .  We^j^^ah^jDajnfu^ 
Fredericksburg.  It  has  been  raining  hard  all  day 
and~nailmg  this  evening,  and  if  there  has  been 
no  advance  yet  I  think  Burnside  will  have  little 
chance  of  doing  anything  this  winter. 
Genl.  Johnston  carried  quite  a  numerous  staff 
with  him  to  the  West  and  I  hope  with  all  my 
heart  that  he  will  win  fresh  laurels  there." 


Immediately  on  reaching  Chattanooga  General 
Johnston  wrote  the  following  letter  to  my  father 
which  I  give  in  full. 

"  Chattanooga, 

"Dec.  4th,   1862. 
"My  dear  Wigfall: 

"  After  a  perilous  journey,  I  arrived  a  little  after 
twelve  last  night,  having  been  delayed  by  three 


^    WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE        99 

railroad  accidents.  A  telegram  from  the  Ad. 
Genl.  urges  me,  in  the  name  of  the  President,  to 
reinforce  Pemberton,  who  'has  fallen  back  from 
his  positions  by  advance  of  very  superior  force  of 
the  enemy'  with  '  a  sufficient  force  of  Genl.  Bragg 's 
command.'  '  Genl.  Holmes  has  been  peremptorily 
ordered  to  reinforce  him — but  his  troops  may  be 
too  late,'  I  am  told.  Genl.  Pemberton  in  falling 
back,  moves  towards  Vicksburg,  where  Holmes 
must  cross  the  river — every  step  he  makes,  there- 
fore, brings  him  nearer  to  his  reinforcements. 
But  as  this  march  is  in  a  direction  exactly  away 
from  Bragg,  and  the  enemy's  army  is  between, 
every  day's  march  makes  a  junction  of  the  latter 
with  Pemberton  more  difficult.  I  proposed  the 
order  to  Holmes  more  than  two  weeks  ago.  Had 
it  been  given  then,  his  troops  would  now  be  near 
Vicksburg,  and  we  should  be  secure  of  our  pos- 
session of  the  Mississippi.  As  matters  now  are, 
the  enemy  being  between  our  armies,  and  probably 
superior  to  any  one  of  them,  their  junction  must 
be  difficult — impossible,  if  his  troops  are  well 
directed.  I  have  not  had  time  yet  to  learn  if 
the  movement  of  Bragg' s  troops  is  practicable, 
and  if  so,  what  time  will  be  necessary  for  it, 
nor  what  Pemberton 's  force  is,  nor  that  of  the 
enemy — nor  where  he  is — nor  in  what  direction 
he  proposes  to  move.  Under  such  circumstances 
a  much  wiser  man,  than  any  I  know,  might  fail 
to  plan  wisely.    The  thing  to  be  done  is  to  urge 


ioo  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

Holmes  to  expedition.     Do  tell  the  Secretary  of 
War  to  do  so. 

"The  President  does  not  consider,  in  estimating 
the  time  Bragg's  movement  may  require,  what  an 
obstacle  the  Tennessee  is.  Nor  that  Vicksburg  at 
least,  will  secure  Holmes's  junction. 

"  Nobody  ever  assumed  a  command  under  more 
unfavorable  circumstances.  If  Rosecranz  had 
disposed  our  troops  himself,  their  disposition  could 
not  have  been  more  unfavorable  for  us. 

"  My  suggestion  to  the  President,  referred  to 
above,  was  to  unite  the  troops  of  Pemberton 
and  Holmes  and  attack  Grant.  It  was  about 
the  15th  ulto.  Genls.  Cooper  and  G.  W.  Smith 
were  present. 

"I  shall  join  Bragg  at  Tullahoma  tomorrow; 
the  railrojil>arrange4nen4s-4na^e_jt_impracticable 
sooner.  All  the  information  necessary  to  me  is 
still  to  be  gained. 

"  Mrs.  J.  sends  cordial  regards  to  Mrs.  Wigfall 
and  yourself. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"J.  E.  Johnston. 
"  Genl.  Wigfall, 
"C.  S.  Senate." 

Upon  the  receipt  of  this  letter  from  Genl. 
Johnston,  my  father  sent  immediately  the  follow- 
ing communication  to  Secretary  of  War,  Mr. 
James  A.  Seddon. 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE       101 

"December  8,   1862. 
"  My  dear  Sir: 

"  I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Genl.  John- 
ston which  causes  gloomy  forebodings  as  to  our 
future  in  the  West.  Pemberton,  he  says,  has 
fallen  back  before  a  superior  force  and  he,  John- 
ston, is  ordered  to  reinforce  him  with  troops  from 
Bragg's  command.  Consider  the  position  of  their 
different  armies.  As  Pemberton  falls  back  he  will 
be  each  day  one  march  further  from  Bragg. 
Grant  is  between  them,  with,  I  suppose,  a  superior 
force  to  either.  If  he  falls  upon  either  before  their 
junction,  may  he  not  destroy  him  and  then  turn 
upon  the  other?  When  Bragg  crosses  the  Ten- 
nessee river  Grant  may  turn  upon  him  at  any 
moment.  How  long  will  it  take  to  cross  the 
Tennessee  without  Birago  trestles  or  pontoon 
boats?  Before  his  raid  into  Kentucky,  Bragg 
was  some  two  or  three  weeks  in  effecting  a  crossing. 
Holmes,  Johnston  writes  me,  has  been  ordered  to 
reinforce  Pemberton,  but  he  does  not  say  with 
what  force.  In  that  movement,  it  seems  to  me, 
lies  our  only  hope  of  safety.  Let  me  beg  you 
will  urge  upon  Holmes  the  utmost  energy  and 
promptness  in  his  movements.  I  trust  that  his 
whole  force  has  been  ordered  across.  Vicksburg 
should  be  the  objective  point  in  this  campaign. 
That  being  safe,  as  I  think  it  would  be,  upon  the 
junction  of  Pemberton  and  Holmes,  the  destruc- 
tion   of    Grant's    Army     should    be    our    next 


102  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

object.  Political  considerations  should  weigh 
nothing  in  the  movement  of  troops.  A  distin- 
guished writer  upon  the  art  of  war,  says,  that 
political  objective  points,  if  adopted  during  a 
campaign,  must  be  in  accordance  with  the  princi- 
ples of  strategy,  and  that  when  that  is  not  possible, 
then  they  should  be  adjourned  till  after  a  decisive 
victory.  When  Oldham  and  Bob.  Johnston  were 
badgering  me  for  not  joining  them  in  insisting 
that  all  the  troops  from  the  other  side  of  the  river 
should  be  returned,  I  told  them  that  if  I  had 
control  of  the  army  every  soldier  from  Arkansas 
and  Texas  should  be  brought  at  once  to  this 
side  so  that  Bragg  might  at  once  crush  Buel. 
The  debate  was  published  and  I  have  to  see  the 
first  man  from  Texas  who  does  not  approve  my 
course.  I  mention  this  to  show,  that  those 
who  oppose  the  concentration  of  our  troops,  be  it 
on  one  side,  or  the  other,  of  the  river,  on  political 
grounds,  are  mistaken  as  to  public  opinion.  Our 
people  are  full  of  good  sense  and  patriotism, 
and  they  will  not  refuse  the  means  necessary 
to  secure  success.  Let  us  save  Vicksburg  and 
then  crush  Rosecranz  and  then  I  am  indif- 
ferent whether  you  winter  the  army  in  Kentucky 
or  Missouri. 

"  One  word  more  as  to  the  policy  to  govern  in 
the  West.  The  valley  of  the  Mississippi  should 
be  the  echequier  of  operations  and  the  armies  of 
the  West  should  be  under  one  head.     On  which- 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE      103 

ever  side  of  the  river  the  enemy  appears,  he  should 
be  met  with  our  whole  force,  and  crushed.  If  he 
appears  on  both  sides,  concentrate  on  one,  and 
crush  him  there,  and  then  cross  and  crush  him 
again.  I  trust  that  the  last  battle  has  been  fought 
by  us  with  inferior  numbers.  Whenever  the 
enemy  divides,  concentrate  and  crush;  and  then 
'follow  up  the  hand,'  as  at  ten  pins  when  you 
make  a  ten  strike.  I  am  induced  to  write  you 
more  fully  on  this  subject  from  a  conversation  I 
had  with  Boteler  during  my  last  visit  to  Richmond 
in  which  he  was  urging  the  propriety  of  giving 
Jackson  a  separate  command.  The  entire  army 
of  Virginia  should  continue  under  Lee.  I  write 
you  freely  and  unreservedly  because  I  know  you 
will  not  misunderstand  me,  nor  regard  my  advice 
as  obtrusive.  I  would  be  obliged  if  you  would 
answer  this  letter,  as  I  feel  great  anxiety  and 
uneasiness  as  to  the  fate  of  Pemberton's  Army. 
I  am  writing  currente  calamo  and  in  great  haste 
and  beg  that  you  will  excuse  this  scrawl  and 
believe  me  very  truly  and  sincerely, 

"  LOUIS    T.    WlGFALL. 

"Hon.  J.  A.  Seddon. 

"  P.  S.  Have  you  any  information  as  to  the 
state  of  things  at  Fredericksburg?  If  not,  what 
is  your  conjecture?  Does  Burnside  simply  wish 
to  get  into  Fredericksburg,  claim  a  great  victory 
a  la  McClellan  and  winter  there?" 


104  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

I  do  not  find  among  my  papers  the  answer 
from  Mr.  Seddon  to  this  letter,  but  that  he  gave 
it  careful  attention  cannot  be  doubted,  as  he  says 
in  answer  to  a  previous  letter. 

" .  .  .  When  you  write  to  me,  mark  your 
letter  on  the  outside  '  Private '  and  then  it  will 
come  under  my  own  eye.  ...  I  shall  always 
receive  with  gratitude  the  suggestions  of  your 
fuller  knowledge  and  riper  experience.  .  .  . 
"  Most  cordially  yours, 

"J.  A.  Seddon." 

But  General  Johnston's  letter  of  December  15th, 
1862,  shows  that  his  suggestions  were  not  complied 
with.     He  writes  as  follows: 

"Chattanooga,  Dec.  15,  1862. 
"  My  dear  Wigfall: 

"  On  my  return  from  Murfreesboro'  a  day  or 
two  ago  I  had  the  pleasure  to  find  your  letter,  and 
the  President.  The  latter  is  on  a  military  tour, 
and  has  taken  immediate  command  in  this  country. 
Unless  he  is  greatly  mistaken  Mr.  Seddon  has  not 
carried  our  point  and  reinforced  Pemberton  with 
Holmes's  troops.  On  the  contrary  he  says  that 
H.  has  not  had  orders  on  the  subject— requests  or 
suggestions  instead — which  he  thinks  himself 
unable  to  comply  with  and  therefore  will  not 
comply    with.     Pemberton    must    be    reinforced. 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE      105 

I  have  no  other  resource  than  the  troops  on  this 
front,  and  must  draw  upon  them.  This  has  blown 
away  some  tall  castles  in  the  air.  I  have  been 
dreaming  of  crushing  Grant  with  Holmes's  and 
Pemberton's  troops,  sending  the  former  into 
Missouri,  and  with  the  latter,  Bragg  and  Kirby 
Smith,  marching  to  the  Ohio.  Our  troops  beyond 
the  Mississippi  seem  to  be  living  in  great  tran- 
quillity. 

"  Bragg's  troops  are  in  fine  condition.  Healthy 
looking  and  well  clothed.  In  fine  spirits  too.  I 
see  no  evidence  of  the  want  of  confidence  and 
dissatisfaction  of  which  we  heard  so  much  in 
Richmond. 

"  A  great  mistake  has  been  made  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  my  command.  Mississippi  and  Arkansas 
should  have  been  united  to  form  it.  Not  this 
state  and  Mississippi,  which  are  divided  by  (to  us) 
an  impassable  river  and  impracticable  country. 
The  troops  in  Middle  Tennessee  could  reach  Fred- 
ericksburg much  sooner  than  Mississippi.  Then 
Genl.  Holmes's  communications  depend  upon  our 
possession  of  the  Mississippi.  It  is  certainly  his 
business  to  at  least  assist  in  the  maintenance  of 
his  communications.  The  troops  in  Arkansas,  as 
having  a  common  object,  could  be  naturally 
united. 

"  You  perhaps  see  no  special  object  on  my  part 
in  troubling  you  with  this,  and  in  truth  I  have  no 
other  than  putting  my  troubles  before  one,  who 


io6  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

has  a  head  to  comprehend  grand  war,  and  a  heart 
to  sympathize  with  me. 

"  I  start,  this  afternoon,  to  Pemberton's  Army. 
About  9,000  men  are  ordered  from  Bragg's — and 
I  hope  to  bring  back  a  great  many  stragglers  who 
are  scattered  over  the  country  S.  W.  of  us. 

"A  telegram  from  the  War  Department  to  the 
President  gave  us  information  of  the  fighting  at 
Fredericksburg  on  Saturday.  What  luck  some 
people  have.  Nobody  will  ever  come  to  attack 
me  in  such  a  place. 

"  Mrs.  J.  wrote  to  Mrs.  Wigfall  a  day  or  two  ago. 
This  mild  climate  is  very  favorable  to  her.  She 
is  in  excellent  health  and  spirits. 

"  I  hope  that  you  have  good  accounts  of  Halsey 
■ — of  his  health,  I  mean,  for  professionally  there 
can  be  no  doubt.  Present  me  cordially  to  Mrs. 
Wigfall  and  the  young  ladies. 

"Very  truly  yours, 

"J.  E.  Johnston." 

From  Jackson,  General  Johnston  wrote  the 
following  letter. 

"Jackson,   Jany.   8th,    1863. 
"  My  dear  Wigfall: 

"  Mrs.  Johnston,  who  arrived  evening  before 
last,  brought  me  your  letter,  which  had  come  to 
Chattanooga  before  she  left  it.  Your  military 
criticism  has  been  more  strongly  called  for  since 


WAR  TIME  CORRESPONDENCE       107 

the  writing  of  that  letter.  And  no  doubt  it  has 
been  made.  I  can't  help  thinking  myself  that  we 
ought  to  have  won  at  Murfreesboro'.  You  think 
I  am  sure,  that  we  ought  to  have  renewed  the  at- 
tack on  the  morning  of  the  1st,  instead  of  postpon- 
ing it  nearly  two  days,  when  the  enemy  had  re- 
organized his  forces  behind  intrenchments.  You 
think  too,  that  having  failed  to  attack  on  the 
1st,  we  should  either  have  turned  the  fortified 
position  or  cut  off  supplies  from  the  enemy  by  our 
cavalry. 

"The  present  state  of  things  fully  confirms  the 
opinion  I  expressed  to  the  President  here  that  this 
command  of  mine  is  a  nominal  one,  imposing  upon 
me  responsibilities  which  I  cannot  possibly  meet. 
It  is  not  a  unit ;  the  armies  of  Bragg  and  Pendleton 
have  different  objects.  They  can't  be  united 
without  abandoning  one  of  them.  I  can  have  no 
command  when  they  are  not  united  except  by 
taking  the  place  of  Bragg  or  Pemberton,  which 
could  not  have  been  intended.  As  it  would  work 
great  injustice  to  the  officer  thus  superseded, 
without  probabilities  of  benefit.  I  cannot,  from 
an  intermediate  point,  direct  the  operations  of 
the  two  armies.  No  man  could  do  it  well;  these 
departments  are  too  completely  separated  to  form 
one  proper  command — they  ought  to  be  separated. 
Tell  Mr.  Seddon  so.  Had  I  been  in  Tennessee  I 
could  have  done  nothing  except  by  depriving 
Bragg    of    his    command.     Here    in    the    recent 


108  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

battle  I  did  nothing — not  choosing  to  supersede 
Pemberton.  I  have  asked  the  President  to  take 
me  out  of  a  position  so  little  to  my  taste.  It  is 
very  like  being  on  the  shelf  with  the  responsibil- 
ities of  command.  ...  I  have  just  read  a 
slip  from  the  N.  O.  Delta,  giving  account  of  a 
glorious  affair  at  Galveston;  but  am  afraid  to 
believe  it.  You  will  see  it  of  course  long  before 
this  reaches  you.  Mrs.  Johnston  is  looking  ex- 
tremely well  and  I  trust  much  to  this  mild  climate 
for  continued  good  health. 

"  I  have  an  office  and  staff  here,  but  very  little 
office  work.  Mrs.  Johnston  desires  to  be  cordially 
remembered  to  Mrs.  Wigfall,  yourself  and  the 
young  ladies. 

"Yours  as  ever, 

"J.  E.  Johnston. 
''  Genl.  Wigfall, 

"C.  S.  Senate." 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-'63 


CHAPTER   VII 
The  Winter  of  '62-'63 

LIGHT-HEARTED  BOYISH  LETTERS  FROM  CAMP — SCHOOLGIRL 
FROLICS A  SOUTHERN  BARBARA  FRIETCHIE CHATTA- 
NOOGA— ANECDOTE  OF  "  STONEWALL"  JACKSON — FAMILY 
LETTERS  TO  AND  FROM  RICHMOND.  JUCk ,     * 

In  reading  over  the  letters  written  at  this  period    cry.     ~7QFp^ 

(the  Winter  of  '6 2-' 6 3),  the  thing  that  strikes  me~'  ^iL    kj 

is  the  tone  of  cheerfulness  and  hope  that  runs  4 

through  all  6T  them.    If  ~had  liotT  dawned  "yet  on 

the  minds  of  arjyxme  that  success  was  not  assured. 

Jackson jwasJ^e_idol "of  the  people  and  everything 

was  anticipated  of  him  when  the  spring  campaign 

should  open.     The  confidence  in  Lee  was  absolute ; 

and  no  one  doubted  that  he  would  carry  all  before 

him.     The  IfactA  that  provisions  were  scarce ;  that   /     i 

prices  were  phenomenally  high;  that  the  purchas-   ! 

ing  power  of  our  currency  was  depreciating  daily ; 

seemed  to  make  no  impression  on  the  temper  or 

spirits  of  the  people.     At  this  time  it  was  frequent 

for   individuals   to   run   the   blockade,    or   come 

through  the  lines,  and  their  advent  was  hailed 

with    delight    by    their    friends    to    whom    they 

brought  welcome  presents  in  the  shape  of  shoes, 

and  other  necessities,   which  it  was  difficult  to 

procure  in  Richmond. 

in 


112 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 


The  Virginia  housekeeper,  famed  for  her  hospi- 
tality and  good  living,  had  hard  work  to  produce 
a  tempting  menu  for  her  guests.  It  would  have 
been  droll  (had  the  cause  not  been  so  tragic)  to 
note  the  stress  laid  upon  a  fair  supper,  on  the  rare 
occasions  when  it  was  forthcoming.  For  they  still 
had  "  parties/'  as  they  were  called,  and  if,  by  good 
fortune,  ice  cream  and  cake  and  "real"  coffee 
appeared,   the   delightful  fact  is    duly  recorded. 

The  letters  from  camp  were  cheering — no  com- 
plaining at  hardships.  Men  reared  in  luxury  who 
hadworn^purpie  "and  fine  linen"  all  their  lives, 
were  the  best  soldiers  in  the  field  and  the  most 
cheerful  bearers  of  the  burden  of  camp  life,  and 
of  the  terrible  marches  through  the  scorching  suns 
of  summer,  and  through  the  winter's  wind  and 
rain.  And  the  poor  boys,  many  of  them  little 
more  than  children,  who  had  come  from  the  far 
south,  sickened  and  died  of  homesickness  and 
disease,  in  camp  and  hospital — yet  we  find  no 
recordjpf  complaint  or  of  desire  expressed  to  give 
up  the  fight.  Some  of  the  letters  from  camp  at 
this  time  give  the  spirit  of  the  men  in  the  war. 

y^brother,  a  boy  of  eighteen,  writes  the  following 
boyish  nonsense/ from 


"  Camp  near  Culpeper, 
"Nov.   15th,   1862. 
"  As  Capt.  Bachman  is  going  down  to  Richmond 
on  business  I  take  this  opportunity  of  '  tellin'  'em 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-'63  113 

huddy  fur  me,  an'  ask  'em  for  sen'  me  sumfin.' 
As  this  is  a  strictly  business  letter  I  will  proceed  to 
enumerate  the  articles  desired.  Primo,  one  large 
black  valise.  Item,  a  plenty  of  writing  paper 
(this  is  my  last  half  sheet)  and  envelopes  and  a  few 
postage  stamps.  Item,  one  buffalo  robe  and  blan- 
ket. Item,  the  horseman's  overcoat  of  which  I 
wrote  in  my  last,  and  which  was  to  be  made  of 
the  heavy  bluish  grey  cloth  now  at  the  Qr.  Mrs. 
Clothing  depot  in  Richmond  or  any  other  suitable 
stuff,  with  long  skirts  and  cape  and  lined  through- 
out with  woolen  stuff  and  at  the  Qr.  Mrs.  dept. 
which  will  be  cheaper,  'vich  it  is  a  very  good 
thing,'  all  of  the  aforesaid  to  be  accomplished 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  '  ubiquitous 
Banks.'  Item,  the  coat  to  be  double-breasted. 
Item,  if  the  coat  is  not  finished  by  the  time  of 
Capt.  Bachman's  return  don't  send  it  by  him! 
Item,  My  BOOTS!  Item,  some  soap  and  a  tooth 
brush.  Item,  my  red  silk  sash.  Item,  one  of  my 
razors — my  shaving  brush  and  soap.  Item,  if 
possible  to  be  procured,  one  travelling  toilet 
glass — this  last  very  important!  Our  horses  are 
getting  more  than  they  can  eat — and  we  ourselves 
fare  very  well,  so  far  as  an  abundance  of  beef  and 
bread  is  concerned.  We  got  a  little  Sorghum 
molasses  the  other  day  and  have  had  some  sweet 
cakes  which  were  very  good,  I  assure  you.  We 
have  a  battery  drill  and  are  at  the  manual  of  the 
piece    every    day — and    altogether    camp    life   is 


ii4  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

somewhat  endurable  though  Mama's  pen-knife 
won't  compare  to  it  in  dullness.  I  was  at  Genl. 
Hood's  Head  Quarters  this  morning.  Since  he 
has  got  to  be  a  Major  Genl.  he  has  moved  into  a 
house  and  I  suppose  intends  to  live  in  style !    .    .    ." 

And  again  from  Camp  near  Chesterfield  Station : 

" .  .  .  My  home  is  in  a  wild  pine  grove  and 
sweetest  melancholy,  poesy's  child,  keeps  watch 
and  ward  over  my  innocent  spirit.  I  sit  on  my 
bench  and  muse  on  the  time  when  the  Yank- 
Yanks  shall  meet  me  in  battle  array  and  when, 
'Virginia  leaning  on  her  spear,'  I  shall  retire  on 
my  laurels  with  one  arm  and  no  legs  to  some 
secluded  dell  to  sigh  away  my  few  remaining 
years  in  blissful  ignorance.  But  a  truce  to  such 
deep  Philosophy.  We  are  all  jogging  along  as 
usual.  All  the  day  I  long  for  night,  and  all  the 
night  I  long  for  its  continuance.  In  fact  it  is 
very  disagreeable  to  get  up  to  attend  Reveille  roll- 
call,  as  I  do  every  fourth  morning,  and  it  is  vastly 
more  pleasant  to  remain  in  my  comfortable  (?) 
bed  and  have  no  other  care  upon  my  mind  than 
that  of  keeping  warm  with  the  least  exertion 
possible.  But  then  comes  that  inevitable  too- 
diddle-tooty,  too-diddle-tooty,  &c,  &c,  &c,  and 
up  I  have  to  jump  and  go  out  in  the  cold  to  hear 
that  Von  Spreckelson  and  Bullwinkle  are  absent 
and  look  at  the  exciting  process  of  dealing  out  corn 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-'63  115 

in  a  tin  cup.  .  .  .  The  snowing  began  before 
daylight  yesterday  morning  and  kept  it  up  with 
scarcely  an  interval  until  late  last  night.  It 
fell  to  a  depth  of  about  nine  inches.  This  morning, 
the  1st,  4th,  and  5th  Texas  Regiments  came  by 
our  camp,  marching  in  irregular  line  of  battle, 
with  their  colors  gotten  up  for  the  occasion,  and 
with  skirmishers  thrown  out  in  advance,  and 
passing  us,  attacked  the  camp  of  the  3rd  Arkansas, 
which  is  immediately  on  our  right.  A  fierce  con- 
test ensued,  snow  balls  being  the  weapons.  The 
Texans  steadily  advanced,  passing  up  the  right 
of  the  camp;  the  Arkansians  stubbornly  disputing 
their  progress,  and  their  shouts  and  cheers  as  they 
would  make  a  charge,  or  as  the  fight  would  become 
unusually  desperate,  made  the  welkin  ring.  A 
truce  was  finally  declared  and  all  four  regiments 
marched  over  the  creek  to  attack  Anderson's 
brigade.  After  crossing  they  formed  in  line, 
deployed  their  skirmishers,  and  at  it  they  went. 
The  Georgians  got  rather  the  best  of  the  fight  and 
drove  them  back  to  the  creek,  where  they  made  a 
stand  and  fought  for  some  time.  They  then  united 
and  started  back  across  the  Massoponax  for 
Genl.  Law's  brigade.  Just  before  arriving  oppo- 
site our  camp  they  saw  another  brigade  coming 
over  the  top  of  the  hill  behind  their  camp  (i.  e., 
Anderson's)  and  back  they  went  to  meet  them. 
How  that  fight  terminated  I  don't  know.  .  .  . 
I  suppose  this  rain  and  snow  will  retard  the  move- 


n6  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

ments  of  the  enemy  too  much  for  them  to  attempt 
to  cross  for  some  time  to  come.  .  .  .  Yester- 
day and  to-day  have  been  lovely  days  and  I 
trust  that  the  weather  will  clear  up  and  continue 
so.  I  expect  Burnside  feels  very  grateful  for  the 
interposition  of  the  elements  to  give  him  an  excuse. 
for  deferring  a  little  longer  the  evil  day  on  which 
he  is  forced  to  attack  us  or  be  decat 


I  saw  in  my  ride  the  other  day  a  body  of  Yankees, 
apparently  a  Regiment,  drawn  up  in  line,  firing. 
They  were  using  blank  cartridges  I  suppose. 
This  looks  as  though  they  had  some  very  fresh 
troops.  If  that  is  the  case  they  had  better  keep 
them  out  of  the  fight,  as  they  will  do  precious 
little  good  in  it. 

"Christmas  eve  we  went  to  see  the  Hood's 
Minstrels  perform.  One  of  the  best  performances 
was  'We  are  a  band  of  brothers'  sung  by  three 
make-believe  darkies,  dressed  entirely  in  black, 
with  tall  black  hats  and  crepe  hatbands,  looking 
more  like  a  deputation  from  a  corps  of  undertakers 
than  anything  else — and  was  intended,  I  suppose, 
as  a  burlesque  upon  Puritanism.  At  all  events  it 
was  supremely  ridiculous.  .  .  .  /I  understand 
that  several  of  the  tailors  in  Charleston  have  com- 
mitted suicide  lately,  driven  to  it  by  the  ruinously 
low  rates  at  which  their  wares  (no  pun  intended) 
are  now  selling.  They  can  only  obtain  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  for  a  second  lieutenant's 
uniform    coat    and   pantaloons.     Poor    wretches! 


4roi  n*4<.  ox- 

They  should  bear  their  burdens  with  more  patience, 
however,  and  remember  that  (according  to  the 
newspaper)  the  hardships  of  this  war  fall  on  all 
alike  and  must  be  endured  by  high  and  low,  rich 
and  poor,  equally.  I  saw  Col.  Jenifer  who  told 
me  he  had  met  Papa  and  Mama  at  a  party  at 
Col.  Ives's  in  the  city  of  Richmond.  Isn't  that 
dissipation  for  you  ?  Do  they  have  cake  '  and  sich ' 
at  parties  now,  or  is  it  merely  '  a  feast  of  reason 
and  a  flow  of  soul  ? '  And  in  conclusion  tell  me  of 
my  overcoat.  Have  you  seen  it?  If  not,  has  any- 
body else  seen  it?  If  not,  how  long  will  it  be,  in 
all  human  probability,  and  speaking  well  within 
the  mark,  before  somebody  else  will  see  it?  .  . 
My  old  one  has  carried  me  through  two  winters 
and  is  now  finishing  the  third  in  a  sadly  dilapidated 
condition.  There  is  a  sort  of  '  golden  halo,  hover- 
ing round  decay,'  about  it,  which  may  perhaps  be 
very  poetical,  but  is  far  from  being  practical  as  i/ys, 

regards  its  weather  resisting  qualities.     .     .     ." 


In  this  spirit  of  lightheartedness\  wrote  the 
soldier  boys  from  their  camps  "m  the  mud  and 
rain  and  discomfort  of  every  kind.  In  Richmond 
too  the  young  people  managed  to  make  merry,  as 
young  people  will,  under  adverse  circumstances. 
The  girls  made  the  best  show  possible  with  their 
meagre  wardrobes — and  fortunate  were  the  ex- 
travagant ones  of  other  days  who  had  a  multi- 
plicity of  garments,  from  which  to  levy  supplies, 


n8  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

to  cut  and  make  over  to  suit  the  fashion  of  the  day. 
On  Franklin  Street,  on  any  fine  afternoon  during 
the  winter,  it  was  a  lovely  sight  to  watch  the 
promenaders  going  up  and  down.  The  officers, 
on  leave  for  a  few  days,  made  the  best  of  their 
holiday,  and  the  pretty  girls  were  decked  out  in 
the  best  finery  they  could  muster.  The  sun  shone 
and  hearts  were  light  and  the  shadow_ot  Appo- 
mattox was  still  so  far  away_ihat  not  even  the 
cloud  as  big  as  a  man's  hand  had  showed  itself. 
The  school  girls  too,  in  spite  of  the  troublous 
times,  found  many  ways  to  amuse  themselves. 
One  day,  when  the  snow  lay  thick  on  the  ground, 
we  were  all  at  luncheon,  when  we  heard  a  great 
shouting  in  the  street,  and  with  one  accord  rushed 
to  the  windows  to  see  the  cause.  We  found  a 
regiment  marching  by,  on  their  way  through 
town,  to  the  railway  station.  They  were  foot- 
sore and  weary,  ill  clad  and  worse  shod;  but  the 
flag  was  flying  and  they  held  their  heads  up  and 
stepped  out  bravely,  as  the  bevy  of  girls  appeared 
on  the  doorteps  and  greeted  us  with  a  great  shout. 
We  rushed  in  again  and  came  out  speedily,  with 
our  hands  and  aprons  full  of  bread,  and  everything 
portable  from  the  table.  There  was  a  halt,  and  we 
ran  out  in  the  street  and  passed  on  our  refresh- 
ments from  man  to  man.  They  laughed  in  great 
glee  and  cheered  and  shouted — and  then  such  a 
frolic  ensued,  for  one  of  the  mischievous  girls 
threw  a  snowball  in  their  midst'     This  was   "a 


Photo  by  Bendann  Bros.,  Balli 

MISS    HETTY    CARY,    OF   BALTIMORE 


THE  WINTER  OP  '62-'63  119 

dare"  and  they  took  it!  All  discipline  was  at  an 
end  and  the  snowballs  flew  thick  and  fast — as 
they  filed  past  us  on  their  journey,  alas !  to  battle- 
fields from  which  many,  indeed,  most  of  them, 
would  return  no  more.  We  went  hungry  till 
supper  time;  but  were  so  glad  to  have  cheered 
them  on  their  weary  way.  One  of  the  interesting., 
incidents  that  occurred  at  this  time  was  the  arrival 
of  Miss  Hetty  Caryjxprn  Ealtimore^^-She-bad  just 
been  released  from  Fort  McHenry,  _whejg.Mshe,liad 
been  imprisoned  for  wearing  a  white  apron  with 
red  ribbons,  the  Confederate  colors!  I  remember 
seeing  her  at  a  dance  at  Mrs.  Pegram's  which  is 
thus  described  in  a  school  girl's  letter. 

"We  had  a  glorious  time — plenty  of  ice  cream, 
cake  and  officers ;  the  latter  predominating.  When 
the  evening  was  a  little  advanced  we  were  honored 
by  the  presence  of  the  beautiful  Miss  Hetty  Cary 
and  we  danced  until  nearly  3  o'clock."  Of 
all  the  women  I  have  ever  met  I  think  she  was 
the  most  beautiful — and  combined  with  great 
loveliness  of  person,  a  brilliancy  of  wit,  which 
made  her  remarkable.  At  this  time,  having  just 
come  through  the  lines,  she  was  dressed  in  the 
last  mode,  and  shone  resplendent  in  an  exquisite 
violet  moir6  with  pink  roses  in  her  hair.  This 
last  was  Titian  tinted  and  rippled  back  from 
her  fair  low  forehead.  Her  complexion  was 
lilies  and  roses;  and  her  figure  magnificent.  She 
was  indeed  a  beauty.     It  is  told  of  Miss  Hetty 


i2o  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

Cary  that,  on  one  occasion,  when  Federal  troops 
were  passing  through  Baltimore,  she  stood  at 
an  open  window  of  her  home  and  waved  a  Con- 
federate flag.  One  of  the  officers  of  a  regiment 
passing  below  noticed  the  demonstration  and 
calling  it  to  the  attention  of  the  Colonel  asked: 
"Shall  I  have  her  arrested?"  The  Colonel, 
glancing  up  and  catching  a  glimpse  of  the  vis- 
ion of  defiant  loveliness,  answered  emphatically: 

"No:  she  is  beautiful  enough  to  do  as  she 

pleases." 

Though  anticipating  events  by  two  years,  I 
will  mention  here  that  Miss  Cary  married  General 
John  Pegram,  who  was  killed  in  battle  three  weeks 
from  her  wedding  day. 

There  are  many  now  who  recall  those  two  pro- 
cessions up  the  aisle  of  old  St.  Paul's. 

As  I  have  said,  it  was  not  uncojnmojiJoxrjeople 
to  slip  back  and  lorth_Jtfi^^^li_lhe_ lines.  My 
mother  writes  at  this  date : 

"February,  1863. 
"  Your  father  has  gone  to  introduce  Burke  (the 
scout)  to  Mr.  Seddon.  He  wanted  to  know  the 
Secretary  of  War  and  to  tell  him,  I  suppose,  his 
impressions  of  his  visit  to  New  York.  He  spent 
a  week  there  and  has  just  got  back! " 

General  Johnston  writes  from  Chattanooga 
giving  an  account  of  his  perplexities. 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-'63  121 

"  Chattanooga,  Jany.  26th,  1863. 
"My  dear  Wigfall: 

"  I  have  asked  the  government  by  telegraph  if 
any  additional  troops,  new  or  old,  can  be  furnished 
for  Bragg' s  Army,  but  have  had  no  reply.  Will 
you  suggest  to  Mr.  Seddon  that  we  are  in  a  very 
critical  condition  in  Tennessee?  The  enemy  has 
fully  supplied  his  losses,  1  am  officially  informed, 
while  our  army  has  received  stragglers  and 
exchanged  prisoners  amounting  to  about  a  third 
of  our  killed  and  wounded.  Such  being  the  case, 
if  there  is  any  truth  in  arithmetic,  another  battle 
must  drive  us  still  farther  back.  If  driven  across 
the  Cumberland  Mountains  we  can  not  hold 
East  Tennessee  and  once  in  possession  of  that 
country  Rosecranz  may  choose  his  point  on  our 
South  Eastern  or  Eastern  frontier  from  Richmond 
to  Mobile.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  there- 
fore to  reinforce  Bragg.  The  conscription  is 
operating  very  slowly.  Can  no  mode  of  expediting 
its  enforcement  be  adopted?  I  cannot  draw  upon 
Pemberton,  for  his  force  is  far  too  small  now.  I 
proposed  the  bringing  to  him  18,000  or  20,000 
troops  from  Arkansas,  none  of  whom  ever  came. 
The  enemy  is  again  at  Vicksburg,  too,  in  heavier 
force,  and  doubtless  with  a  different  plan — prob- 
ably to  attempt  to  attack  from  below  instead  of 
from  the  Yazoo. 

"  Bragg  has  done  wonders,  I  think — no  body  of 
troops  has  done  more  in  proportion  to  numbers 


i22  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

in  the  same  time.  At  Murfreesboro'  he  killed, 
wounded  and  took  17,000  and  within  the  three 
weeks  preceding  7,500.  His  own  loss  in  all  that 
time  about  9,000.  My  own  official  position  does 
not  improve  on  acquaintance.  It  is  little,  if  any, 
better  than  being  laid  on  the  shelf.  I  have  en- 
deavored to  explain  this  to  the  President,  but  he 
thinks  it  essential  to  have  one  here  who  can  trans- 
fer troops  from  this  department  to  Pemberton's 
and  vice-versa.  That  would  be  extremely  well 
if  either  department  could  possibly  spare  troops, 
even  for  a  short  time,  but  that  is  not  the  case, 
each  having  too  few  for  immediate  purposes  and 
the  distance  and  character  of  the  intermediate 
country  such  as  completely  prevents  them-  from 
aiding  each  other,  except  an  occasional  cavalry 
movement.  It  is  an  attempt  to  join  things  which 
cannot  be  united.  It  would  require  at  least  a 
month  to  send  10,000  men  from  one  of  the  two 
armies  to  the  other.  Each  department  having 
its  own  commander  and  requiring— indeed  having 
room  but  for  one.  You  perceive  how  little  occupa- 
tion I  can  find.  I  can  not  unite  the  two  armies — 
because  they  are  too  far  apart,  and  each  is  required 
where  it  is.  Nor  can  I  take  command  of  one 
because  each  has  its  proper  commander,  and  yet 
the  country  may  hold  me  responsible  for  any 
failure  between  North  Carolina  and  Georgia  and 
the  Mississippi,  for  I  am  supposed  to  be  com- 
manding in  all  that  country.     After  commanding 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-'63  123 

our  most  important,  and  I  may  add,  best  army 
for  a  year,  it  is  hard  to  lose  that  command  for 
wounds  in  battle  and  to  receive  a  nominal  one. 
I  must  confess  I  cannot  help  repining  at  this 
position.  The  President,  however,  evidently  in- 
tends that  I  shall  hold  a  high  position  and  im- 
portant one;  but  I  think  he  mistakes  the  relation 
between  Tennessee  and  Mississippi. 

"  I  flatter  myself  that  I  have  never  been  so 
garrulous  before  and  won't  be  so  again. 

"We  rarely  see  Richmond  papers,  so  I  don't 
know  what  you  are  doing  for  us.  My  cordial 
regards  to  Mrs.  Wigfall  and  the  young  ladies. 

"  If  you  can  help  me  out  of  my  present  place  I 
shall  love  you  more  than  ever.     It  will  require 
diplomacy   and   cunning,    however,    and   I    don't 
think  you  strong  in  the  latter. 
"  Yours  truly, 

"J.  E.  Johnston." 

General  Johnston  writes  again  from 

"Knoxville,  Tenn., 

"Feb.   14th,   1863. 
"  My  dear  Wigfall: 

"  I  have  several  times  taken  the  liberty  of  asking 
you  by  telegraph  to  try  to  get  R.  A.  Howard  made 
Brig.  Genl.,  Schleicher  made  a  Capt.  of  Engineers 
and  the  McLean,  of  Bull  Run,  in  whom  you  and 
Mr.  Clay  were  so  much  interested,  put  into  the 


i24  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

Qr.  Mrs.  dept.  As  these  things  were  all  for  the 
benefit  of  the  military  service,  in  which  you  take 
as  much  interest  as  any  soldier  or  citizen  of  the 
Confederacy,  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  apologize. 
Let  me  now  ask  you  to  consider  the  services  of  the 
Army  of  Tennessee.  Our  principal  officers  and 
the  most  intelligent  of  our  friends  in  Nashville 
estimate  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in  the  battle  of 
Murfreesboro'  at  not  less  than  20,000 — the  force 
which  inflicted  that  loss  could  not  have  been  much 
more  than  30,000.  More  effective  fighting  is  not  to 
be  found  in  the  history  of  modern  battles.  The 
enemy  fell  back  to  a  very  strong  position,  where 
he  received  reinforcements,  on  account  of  which 
our  army  abandoned  the  ground;  the  general 
being  urged  to  do  so  by  those  under  him  of  high 
rank.  This  Army  of  Tennessee  has  had  a  hard 
time  of  it  and  a  thankless  one.  My  object  now  is 
to  persuade  that  in  the  neighborhood  of  Murfrees- 
boro' it  was  well  commanded  and  fought  most 
gallantly,  inflicting  upon  the  enemy  more  harm  in 
proportion  to  its  members,  if  my  memory  is  not  at 
fault,  than  any  army  of  modern  times.  So  if  you 
thank  any  troops  for  fighting  well,  these,  it  seems 
to  me,  should  be  included.  I  desired  Gen.  Harris, 
of  Missouri,  to  say  so  to  you.  I  am  especially 
interested  in  this  matter  because  the  thanks  of 
Congress  would  have  a  good  effect  upon  the  troops 
who  feel  that  others  have  received  the  compliment 
for  far  less  marching  and  fighting.     Bragg  has 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-'63  125 

commanded  admirably  in  Tennessee  and  made  the 
best  use  of  his  troops  of  all  arms. 

"  I  have  been  very  busy  for  some  time  looking 
for  something  to  do — to  little  purpose,  but  with 
much  travelling.  Each  of  the  three  departments 
assigned  to  me  has  its  general  and  as  there  is  no 
room  for  two,  and  I  can't  remove  him  appointed 
by  the  Prest.  for  the  precise  place,  nothing  but  the 
post  of  Inspector  General  is  left  to  me.  I  wrote  to 
the  President  on  the  subject — trying  to  explain 
that  I  am  virtually  laid  upon  the  shelf  with  the 
responsibility  of  command,  but  he  has  not  replied, 
perhaps  because  he  has  no  better  place  for  me.  I 
should  much  prefer  the  command  of  fifty  men. 
"  Very  truly  yours. 

"J.  E.  Johnston." 

As  I  sit  and  think  of  the  many  memories  that 
mark  the  passage  of  those  wonderful  four  years 
some  seem  to  stand  out  in  bold  relief  and  arrest 
the  mind.  Far  down  the  street  one  day  in  the 
early  spring  we  heard  the  tramp,  tramp,  of  many 
feet  and  the  unearthly,  mournful  sound  of  the 
dead  march.  We  knew  what  it  was.  They  were 
bearing  to  his  last  resting  place  the  "gallant 
Pelham,"  the  young  Alabama  hero,  who  had 
commanded  Stuart's  Horse  Artillery  and  laid  down 
his  life  at  Kellysville  on  March  17th,  in  the  first 
great  Cavalry  battle  of  the  war.  We  watched  the 
sad  procession  file  past  the  door  and  the  music 


126  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

floated  to  our  ears  like  the  wail  of  a  human  voice. 
We  wept  in  sympathy — for  one  so  brave,  so  young, 
so  fair.  Such  scenes  were  now  frequent  and  we 
were  soon  called  upon  to  bear  the  heaviest  grief 
yet  laid  upon  the  people,  who  were  to  be  whelmed 
in  sorrow  before  the  end  should  come. 

My  mother  writes  to  my  brother,   then  with 
Fitz  Lee's  Cavalry  Division: 

"May  nth,  1863. 
"We  are  all  saddened  to  the  heart  to-night  by 
hearing  the  death  of  our  hero  Jackson!  In 
addition  to  our  own  irreparable  loss,  it  will  put 
new  life  and  courage  into  our  cruel  foe.  It  will 
cause  mourning  all  over  our  land  and  each  person 
seems  to  feel  as  if  he  had  lost  a  relative.  I  feel 
more  disheartened  about  the  war  now  than  I  have 
ever  felt  before.  It  seems  to  me.  it  is  to  be  inter- 
minable, anjb?diat_a_wxe:t^ 

tojook  forward  to!  I  suppose  the  death  of  Jack- 
son  ha^fl^ftf^ftH  HR  aft  p.nd  T  ran't.  Tiftlp  thinking  it 

fwi-irflprp  fn  rnnlfr  nn"th°r  ntt°™pt  wry  anon 
You  see  by  the  papers  they  claim  having  taken 
almost  as  many  prisoners  as  we  have  and  I  am 
sure  the  loss  of  Jackson  has  turned  the  last  fight 
into  a  calamity,  if  not  a  curse.  I  expect  you  will 
think  I  am  really  blue — but  you  know  Jackson  has 
been  my  hero  and  favorite  for  a  long  time.  We 
must,  though,  hope  on,  hope  ever!" 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-63  127 

Another  letter  says: 

"  I  have  just  come  up  from  witnessing  the 
funeral  procession  of  dear  'old  Stonewall.'  I 
never  saw  a  more  solemn  scene  and  hope  never  to 
see  another  such.  This  morning  early  I  went  to 
the  Governor's  and  saw  the  body  lying  in  state. 
He  looks  perfectly  natural,  more  as  if  he  were 
asleep  than  dead.  No  one  seems  to  know  who 
will  succeed  to  his  command." 

A  touching  incident  concerning  this  great  man 
was  told  me  by  one  of  the  Maryland  men  who  wore 
the  Grey  and  served  under  Jackson,  and  in  whose 
own  words  I  give  it: 

"  Our  Battalion  was  in  winter  quarters  and 
stationed  at  Genl.  Jackson's  Headquarters  a 
few  months  before  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville — 
a  short  time  before  his  death.  It  was  Genl. 
Jackson's  custom  every  afternoon  to  have  a 
meeting  for  prayer,  in  a  large  tent.  He  sent  over 
an  invitation  to  the  members  of  our  Battalion  to  be 
present,  saying  he  would  like  very  much  to  have 
us  come.  One  afternoon  I  went  over  to  the 
prayer  meeting  tent  and  as  I  approached  nearer  I 
heard  some  one  praying  aloud — in  earnest  suppli- 
cation— and  the  words  of  the  petition,  in  their 
beautiful  simplicity  were  like  those  of  a  little 
child.  I  did  not  know  at  first  who  it  was.  When 
the  prayer  was  ended  I  perceived  it  was  Genl. 


i28  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

Jackson.  After  the  prayer  there  was  a  pause  and 
Dr.  Lacy,  his  Chaplain,  told  him  that  the  young 
men  present  would  like  to  hear  a  few  words  from 
him.  But  his  modesty  was  such  that  he  could 
not  be  induced  to  speak  a  word.  I  was  deeply 
impressed  by  the  simple  childlike  faith  of  this 
great  soldier — to  save  whom  any  man  among  us 
would  have  died." 

At  this  time  thousands  of  Federal  prisoners  were 
taken  through  Richmond.  An  extract  from  a 
letter  says,  "They  formed  a  perfect  army  and  as 
they  marched  in  the  middle  of  the  street  one  could 
scarcely  realize  they  were  actually  prisoners,  if 
it  had  not  been  that  their  arms  had  been  taken 
from  them,  and  that  they  were  guarded  on  each 
side  by  our  men,  who  you  may  be  sure  looked 
proud  enough  as  they  escorted  them." 

My  mother  writes,  May  17th,  1863,  to  my 
brother : 

"  I  send  you,  with  our  letters,  a  pound  of  candy 
and  a  box  of  Guava  jelly  which  was  given  me.  I 
know  you  have  no  sugar,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  although  you  will  laugh  at  the  idea  you  will 
nevertheless  enjoy  the  sweets.  Mrs.  McLean 
(Genl.  Sumner's  daughter)  has  been  staying  with 
Mrs.  Davis  for  three  weeks,  waiting  for  a  passport 
from  the  Yankee  Secretary  of  War,  and  Mrs. 
Chesnut  told  me  the  other  day  that  it  had  been 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-'63  129 

peremptorily  refused — so  I  doubt  if  Rose  will  be 
able  to  get  to  Baltimore  to  her  children.  We  are 
all  very  anxious  to  know  the  next  move.  I  heard 
yesterday  that  Genl.  Stuart  was  to  go  immediately 
on  an  extensive  raid,  but  your  father  says  it  is  not 
so.  Genl.  Lee  is  still  here.  Your  father  is  talking 
of  going  up  with  Genl.  Stuart  in  the  morning." 

Prices  in  Richmond  had  now  taken  another 
rise  and  board  in  private  houses  with  poor  fare 
was  $240  a  month,  so  all  persons  not  obliged  to 
be  on  the  spot  were  leaving  for  quiet  places  in 
the  country,  where  cheaper  rates  could  be  secured. 
This  was  difficult  too,  for  it  was  imperative  for 
one's  peace  of  mind  that  these  retreats  should  be 
on  a  line  of  railroad  and  within  reach  of  tidings 
from  the  army. 

The  following  letter,  written  by  my  brother  in 
pencil,  bears  date  May  2,  1863,  and  gives  a  de- 
scription of  a  skirmish  just  before  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville . 

"We  have  had  a  glorious  fight  this  afternoon. 
Drove  the  Yankees  from  the  start  and  kept  them 
going  as  fast  as  we  could  follow  until  dark.  Major 
Beckham  and  Capt.  Breathed  and  I  were  with  my 
Howitzer  which  was  the  first  piece  of  Artillery 
fired.  The  fight  began  about  half  past  five. 
The  first  shot  the  Yankee  Artillery  fired  was  a 
spherical  case:  one  of  the  bullets  struck  me  on  the 


^  130  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

^j  arm.     It    was    however,    entirely    spent.     Three 

1*  of  our  pieces  and  one  of  McGregor's  were  the  only 

\?  ones  of  the   Horse   Artillery   engaged.     I   wrote 

H  last  night,  but  don't  know  whether  you  got  it. 

Don't  look  to  hear  from  me  until  the  fighting  is 

over,  for  there  are  no  mails.     It  is  all  mere  chance 

as  to  getting  a  letter  to  you.     Out  of  our  three 

<gf  pieces  we  only  lost  one  man.     He  was  killed.     I 

write  by   moonlight  on   a  limber   chest   and  on 

Yankee  paper.     Our  men  in  the  highest  possible 

spirits.     Everything  is  bright." 

I  wrote  in  answer: 

"Richmond,  May  15th. 

" .  .  .  Lieut.  J.  called  to  see  Mama  and 
delivered  both  the  letter  and  the  overcoat.  The 
letter  was  by  far  the  most  welcome  of  the  two, 
as  we  had  heard  so  little  from  you  since  the  battle. 
.  .  .  Though  your  first  letter  written  by  moon- 
light on  a  limber  chest  was  the  most  romantic, 
the  last  was  by  far  the  most  satisfactory  and 
interesting. 

"  Hood's  Division  passed  through  several  days 
ago  and  we  girls  had  our  usual  fun,  waving,  &c, 
&c.  Quantities  of  prisoners,  thousands  at  a  time, 
have  passed  also.  3,000  went  through  on  the  day 
that  General  Jackson's  funeral  took  place.  Quite 
a  misfortune  happened  last  night  in  the  way  of 
the  Tredegar  Iron  Works  taking  fire — or  being 


THE  WINTER  OF  '62-'63  131 

set  on  fire  as  some  people  believe  by  Yankee  spies. 
Genl.  Anderson  they  say  has  lost  an  immense 
amount  of  money  and  it  will  seriously  retard  the 
making  of  arms.  Mama  is  thinking  of  leaving 
town  Monday,  for  what  destination  she  does  not  ( 
know.  SVip  and  "Papa  both  think  it  useless_lo 
wait  in Richmond  for  information  of  a  pleasant 
locality,  so  they  have  determined  to  get  on  the 
cars  and  travel  till  they  come  to  some  agreeable 
stopping  place.  They  will  then  write  me  of  their 
whereabouts  and  I  will  join  them,  as  soon  as  my 
examinations  will  be  over,  which  will  be  the  end 
of  June.  There  is  no  news  of  any  sort  at  present 
in  Richmond.  Eyervjjai^f^e^t3n  as  usual — and 
the  devotees  of  the  CapitoTand  Franklin  St.  take 
their  usual  promenades,  and  with  the  exception 
of  a  new  face  now  and  then,  and  a  little  variation 
in  the  way  of  stars  and  gold  lace,  all  is  the  same 
as  when  you  were  here  last  winter.  Richmond  is 
looking  beautifully  just  at  present  but  in  a  few 
weeks  the  heat  and  dust  will  have  become  intol- 
erable." 

My_ father  and  motherjiadjntended  making  the 
journey  home  to  _Texas.  1ias--^urnrneT -pi  "  '63/^ 
but  news  that  a  number  of  ironclads  had  suc- 
ceeded in  running  past  Vicksburg  had  interfered 
with  their  plans. 

A  number  of  the  Texas  delegation  made  the  at- 
tempt and  had  to  return  to  Richmond  to  try  the 


i32  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

^Nassau  route.     This  perilous  journey  was  after- 
Ward  made  the  next  summer  of  '64  by  my  father 
J  and  mother,   under  more  terrible  circumstances 
ithan  those  that  now  existed,  as  will  be  told  in  due 
time. 

All  accounts  now  poir^d  to  a  Jniward  move- 
ment  of  the  Armx»and^4^e-iieayv-heartedj3iQthers 
and  wives  contemplated — a — tragically — anxious, 
summer. 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR 


CHAPTER  VIII 
The  Fortune  of  War 

SOCIAL     LIFE     IN     RICHMOND HALSEY     WIGFALL's     LETTERS 

FROM  THE  FRONT GETTYSBURG LETTERS  FROM  GEN- 
ERAL HAMPTON FROM  GENERAL  STUART FROM  GEN- 
ERAL LONGSTREET A  TOURNAMENT HUMOR  IN  A  HOS- 
PITAL. 

It  is  curious  to  note  how  youth  will  extract  gayety 
and  pleasure  out  of  adverse  surroundings.  I  find 
recorded  in  letters  at  this  time,  in  spite  of  the 
gnawing  anxieties  which  were  weighing  down  the 
hearts  of  all  serious  people,  that  sundry  delightful 
parties  were  organized  to  partake  of  strawberries 
and  ice  cream  at  "  Pizzini's,"  the  famous  con- 
fectioners of  the  day  in  Richmond.  Expeditions 
were  planned  to  Drewry's  Bluff  with  a  band  of 
music  in  attendance,  and,  of  course,  with  the 
usual  accompaniment  of  the  delightful  officer, 
who,  equally,  of  course,  was  either  halt,  lame 
or  blind,  as  all  whole  men  were  at  their  posts  in 
the  field  in  June,  1863.  Serenades,  too,  were  in 
order,  and  I  find  that  on  our  return  from  one  of 
the  aforesaid  strawberry  feasts,  about  twelve 
o'clock  on  the  same  night  Ella had  a  charm- 
ing serenade  of  a  full  brass  band  from  one  of  her 

i35 


136  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

admirers.  This  combination  of  serenade,  with 
strawberries  and  ice  cream,  seemed  to  fill  the  cup 
of  joy  to  the  brim. 

June  5  th  found  my  father  and  mother  at  Orange 
Court  House  in  comfortable  quarters,  luxuriating 
in  the  country  air  and  fruit.  The  fare  too  was 
rather  more  abundant  and  of  better  character. 
There  we  joined  them  a  few  weeks  later.  The 
house  was  filled  to  overflowing  with  women  and 
children — families  of  officers  in  command  in  the 
army  near  by.  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  the  gallant 
Cavalry  leader,  was  at  Culpeper  Court  House  and 
there  on  the  night  of  June  4th  a  ball  was  given,  to 
which  flocked  all  the  Virginia  belles  of  the  country 
side,  as  one  can  fancy — for  this  was  the  flower  of 
the  chivalry  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 
One  can  imagine  the  scene — the  jingling  of  spurs 
and  clanking  of  sabres,  to  the  merry  tunes  of  the 
fiddle  and  the  banjo,  and  the  old  story  repeating 
itself  in  the  telling,  as  is,  and  ever  will  be,  the  case, 
"when  youth  and  pleasure  meet  to  chase  the 
glowing  hours  with  flying  feet." 

On  the  morrow  a  great  review  was  held  of  the 
Cavalry  at  Brandy  Station  in  the  broad  open  coun- 
try surrounding  that  place,  and  General  Lee  was 
present  in  person.  An  immense  concourse  of 
people  gathered  to  see  the  sights,  and  a  beautiful 
spectacle  it  was,  with  the  sun  shining  from  the 
summer  sky  on  that  brave  array — though  the  gold 
lace  was  somewhat  tarnished  and  the  gay  uniforms 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  137 

showing  signs  of  wear.  Yet  the  gallant  forms  that 
wore  them,  dashing  hither  and  thither  in  the 
manoeuvres,  embodied  in  the  eyes  of  the  watchers 
all  the  graces  and  daring  of  the  dauntless  cavalier. 
Upon  them  they  rested  their  hope— and  the 
thought  that  failure  should  come  to  J.  E.  B. 
Stuart  and  his  gallant  corps  never  darkened  the 
sky  of  that  glorious  June  day. 

That  night  the  Federal  Cavalry  attacked  the 
encampment  and  the  battle  of  Brandy  Station 
passed  into  history — the  Federals  being  repulsed 
and  driven  across  the  Rappahannock. 

Then  came  Stuart's  raid  into  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

My  mother  writes  to  my  brother: 

"Orange  C.  H.,  June  27th,  1863. 

".  .  .  I  was  very  glad  to  get  your  note  of 
the  1 8th  June,  and  only  wish  I  knew  where  you 
were  now.  We  arej]]  an  ansjoua  set  of  jvomen  at 
present.  Mrs.  Gordon  (J.  B.)  leaves  to-day  for 
Winchester  to  try  and  hear  something  of  her  hus- 
band.    He  commands  Lawton's  old  brigade.    .    .    . 

"We  are  all  much  delighted  with  the  accounts 
from  the  Yankee  papers — of  their  alarm  and  dis- 
may— but  it  seems  unaccountable,  after  their 
disgraceful  and  barbarous  treatment  of  our  people 
that  we  should  not  be  repaying  them  in  their  own 
coin." 


138  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

From  the  letter  alluded  to,  written  in  pencil  on 
a  scrap  of  paper,  I  make  the  following  extract: 

"Rector's  X  Road,  June  18th,  1863. 
"Dear  Mama, 

"  I  have  written  L.  twice  in  the  last  two  weeks 
and  the  reason  I  did  not  write  you  after  the  fight 
(Brandy  Station)  was  that  you  were  so  close 
(Orange  C.  H.)  I  did  not  think  you  would  feel 
uneasy  at  not  hearing  from  me.  The  best  proof 
you  can  have  of  my  safety,  except  hearing  so 
positively,  is  by  hearing  nothing.  Moving  with 
the  Cavalry  here  to-day  and  there  to-morrow,  it  is 
impossible  to  keep  up  a  regular  correspondence. 

"  The  wounded  are  always  sent  to  the  rear  and  if 
I  am  ever  unfortunate  enough  to  be  placed  in  that 
category  I  shall  certainly  let  you  know.  So  till 
you  hear  positively  to  the  contrary  make  your 
mind  easy  on  my  account.  We  marched  from 
Starke's  Ford  the  day  your  letter  is  dated  (14th) 
and  came  up  by  Amisville,  Gaines'  X  Roads,  Flint 
Hill,  Orleans,  Piedmont  on  the  Manassas  Gap 
R.R.,  Paris,  Upperville  and  Middleburg  to  Dover 
Mills,  which  we  reached  yesterday  afternoon  and 
where  we  engaged  the  Yankee  Cavalry  and  Artil- 
lery. I  was  detached  from  the  battery  in  com- 
mand of  the  Whitworth  gun  of  my  section.  This 
piece  lost  none.  The  other  piece  of  my  section 
and  one  of  Johnston's  three  pieces  each  lost  one 
man  killed.     These  were  the  only  men  of  the  bat- 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  139 

tery  lost.  The  drivers  of  the  Whitworth  in  trotting 
through  a  gate  ran  against  one  of  the  posts  and 
snapped  the  pole  short  off.  .  .  .We  were  falling 
back  at  the  time  so  there  was  no  chance  to  repair 
it.  The  enemy  was  flanking  us  so  we  were  forced 
to  fall  back,  making  a  circuitous  route  and  striking 
the  turnpike  between  Upperville  and  Middleburg 
late  last  night.  The  battery  is  about  to  move 
now,  so  good-bye.  You  must  not  expect  to  hear 
from  me  regularly  but  write  yourself  frequently." 

The  next  letter  from  my  brother  was  written 
just  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  on  the  march — 
dated  July  7th,  1863.  Camp  near  Williamsport, 
Maryland. 

He  was  at  this  time  not  nineteen  years  old. 

"Dear  Papa, 

"  Since  the  13th  of  June,  inclusive,  there  has  not 
been  a  day  on  which  we  have  not  marched.  Our 
battery  and  two  guns  of  McGregor's  were  with  the 
cavalry,  Fitz  and  W.  H.  F.  Lee's  brigades  and 
Hampton's  on  the  expedition  round  the  enemy. 
We  started  on  the  march  the  24th  of  June  and 
reached  our  lines  at  Gettysburg  the  2nd  of  July 
just  before  night.  Genl.  Hampton  captured  a 
train  of  200  wagons  and  burnt  some  of  them  within 
seven  miles  of  Georgetown,  the  Yankee  army  lying 
at  Frederick.  We  brought  into  our  lines  at  Get- 
tysburg one  hundred  and  sixty  odd.     We  reached 


i4o  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

this  place  yesterday  afternoon  while  a  fight  was 
going  on  for  the  possession  of  the  ford,  the  enemy 
endeavoring  to  drive  us  from  it.  The  battery  was 
not  engaged  however.  Orders  have  just  come  to 
move. 

"July  8th.  We  are  now  near  Funkstown. 
Young  Winston  is  going  over  the  river  this  morn- 
ing and  may  go  as  far  as  Hanover.  Everything 
is  wet  around,  it  having  rained  nearly  all  night 
and  there  is  not  much  chance  for  elegant  letter 
writing.  We  were  engaged  on  the  third  day  of  the 
fight  at  Gettysburg  with  a  battery  of  the  enemy 
at  long  range.  It  was  opposite  the  left  of  our  line 
where  the  Cavalry  was  fighting.  Tell  Mama  to 
write  to  L.  for  me  if  she  is  not  with  you  and  until 
we  halt  for  a  day  or  two  at  least  you  may  not 
expect  to  hear  much  or  often  from  me.  Give  my 
best  love  to  dearest  Mama  and  L.  and  little  F. 
Good-bye  dear  Papa  and  believe  me  as  ever, 
"  Your  affectionate  son, 

"Halsey." 

On  July  8th  my  mother  writes:  "We  are  all 
excited  by  the  news  that  came  yesterday.  Owing 
to  the  weather  or  fear  of  the  trains  being  taken, 
we  have  had  no  mails  from  Richmond  until  yes- 
terday and  then  only  a  stray  paper,  but  that  tells 
us  there  has  been  another  battle.  Your  father 
does  not  think  that  Halsey  was  in  it — but  I  can't 
help  feeling  anxious  till  I  hear  more  about  it." 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  141 

These  were  the  first  tidings  that  came  to  them 
of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Later  I  find  a  letter 
dated 

"  Orange  C.  H.,  July  16th,  1863. 

"  It  is  some  time  since  I  have  written  to  you,  my 
dearest  son,  but  the  uncertainty  of  your  getting 
letters  make  it  almost  useless  to  write.  The  note 
you  sent  in  pencil  by  Mr.  Winston  came  yesterday 
and  was  thankfully  received.  'Tis  the  only  tidings 
we  have  had  of  you  for  weeks  except  from  Col.  P., 

who  told  me  you  were  well  up  to  the  23rd  of  June,  ) 

and  your  father  saw  an  officer  on  the  cars  who  said  ~y j^V  * 

he  had  seen  you  on  the  4th.     Your  note  bears  date  ,-A 

a  week  later.     Write,  my  child,  whenever  oppor-  ^y  \0\ 

tunity  offers.     You  cannot  tell  the  intense  anxiety    ^\r        A<J\cl       / 
and  uneasiness  of  those  left  at  home.     We  have         ^     ^r 
all  been  watching  with  painful  interest  the  course      *  ■  ^s^ 
of   our   Army   since   it   crossed   the   border,    and     £k 
although  late  accounts  have  cast  a  gloom  upon  us, 
we  all  feel  assured  that  Lee  will  yet  do  something  to 
make  them  tremble  as  much  as  they  are  now  exult- 
ing over  our  misfortunes.   Troubles  seena  to  fhirkpn. 
urjonuSjaU-atorice.     The  fall  of  Vicksbttrg  and  the 
^  attack  on  ChnrlrrtnP  whrvn  no  many  of  thg^troops 
have  been  witTidraw-U—are-  enough  to  dispirit  us, 
but  we  are  not  dismayed,  but  believe  that  all  will 
yet  be  right.     The  most  sickening  feature  is  the 
prolongation ._of_ the  war.     Groaning,  however,  will 
do  neither  you  nor  me  any  good,  so  a  truce  to  it." 


i42  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  OF  '61 

"  I  had  a  long  letter  from  Mrs.  Johnston  dated 
July  5th.  She  had  not  then  heard  of  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg,  but  fully  expected  it  as  did  we.  Genl. 
Johnston  wrote  fully  to  your  father  June  28th,  and 
told  him  it  was  utterly  impossible  with  his  25,000 
men,  scarcely  then  equipped,  to  relieve  the  place 
and  that  if  Kirby  Smith  could  do  nothing  it  must 
fall.  Mrs.  Johnston  encloses  me  a  letter  to  her 
from  her  husband,  which  is  so  noble  and  manly  in 
its  tone  that  I  don't  wonder  that  she  is  proud  of 
him.     .     .     . 

"  F.  has  just  come  in  with  a  letter  from  Genl. 
Hampton  to  your  father.  He  writes  from  Char- 
lottesville, says  he  is  doing  well  and  hopes  in  a  few 
days  to  go  home.  Genl.  Hood  came  with  him  to 
Staunton  where  he  is  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Darby, 
requires  nothing  but  good  nursing  and  generous 
diet  and  proposes  to  pay  us  a  visit  if  he  can." 

The  letter  alluded  to  from  Genl.  Hampton  is  as 
follows : 

"Charlottesville,  July  15th,  1863. 
"My  dear  Wigfall, 

"  Hood  and  myself  came  to  Staunton  together 
and  he  remained  there  under  charge  of  Darby. 
He  is  doing  well  and  his  arm  will  be  saved.  All  he 
needs  now  is  good  nursing,  together  with  cheerful- 
company  and  generous  living.  He  proposes  to  pay 
you  a  visit  if  he  can  get  rooms  at  Hiden's,  so  do  drop 
him  a  line.     Halsey  was  well  up  to  the  time  of  my 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  143 

leaving  Gettysburg,  the  4th  instant.  I  have  been 
handled  pretty  roughly,  having  received  two  sabre 
cuts  on  the  head — one  of  which  cut  through  the 
table  of  my  skull — and  a  shrapnel  shot  in  my  body, 
which  is  there  yet.  But  I  am  doing  well  and  hope 
in  a  few  days  to  be  able  to  go  home.  Suppose  you 
meet  me  at  Gordonsville  as  I  pass?  Our  Army  is 
in  good  condition  after  its  terrible  and  useless 
battle. 

"  The  Yankees  will  be  defeated  if  we  can  get  at 
them  on  fair  ground.  We  could  better  have 
stormed  the  heights  of  Stafford  than  those  of  Get- 
tysburg. 

"  I  had  a  large  leather  trunk,  canvas  covered, 
and  with  'W.  H.'  printed  on  each  end.  Will  you 
do  me  the  favor  to  enquire  for  it?  It  was  put  on 
the  cars  at  Culpeper  C.  H.  With  kind  regards  to 
Mrs.  Wigfall,  I  am, 

"  Yours  very  truly, 

"Wade  Hampton. 
"Hon.  L.  T.  Wigfall." 

My  mother  writes: 

"Charlottesville,  July  22nd. 
"As  you  see  this  was  written  before  I  had  heard 
of  the  return  of  our  Army  to  Va.  .  .  .  Your 
father  returned  on  Sunday  from  Richmond  and 
says  young  Lee  told  him  he  had  left  you  well  two 
days  before.     We   came  here   on   Monday.     The 


144.,         A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

people  in  the  house  where  we  were  in  Orange  deter- 
mined to  take  no  more  boarders.  They  say  their 
supplies  have  given  out,  etc.  We  are  staying  here 
at  Dr.  Dice's  on  the  Ridge.  It  is  a  beautiful  spot 
and  just  near  enough  to  the  centre  of  the  town  to 
be  a  pleasant  walk.  How  I  wish  you  could  pay 
us  a  little  visit !  Now  you  have  got  back  to  '  old 
Virginny's  shore'  I  hope  to  hear  from  you  occa- 
sionally. The  Administration  party  is  bitter 
against  Genl.  Johnston,  but  the  public  will  sustain 
him  and  it  isn't  thought  true  that  he  is  to  be  super- 
seded. I  have  just  done  writing  Mrs.  J.  a  long 
letter.     .     .     ." 

The  following  letter  from  my  brother  gives  an 
account  of  his  experiences  during  Stuart's  expe- 
dition: 

"  Camp  near  Leetown, 
"  Jefferson  Co.,  Va.,  July  18,  1863. 
".  .  .  I  wrote  a  short  note  to  Papa  from  near 
Funkstown  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  on  the 
9th  inst.,  though  I  have  very  great  doubts  as  to 
whether  it  ever  reached  you.  The  battery  is  in 
very  bad  condition  as  to  horses  and  is  out  of 
ammunition.  Two  of  the  guns  got  some  of  the 
latter  before  we  recrossed  the  river,  leaving  the 
other  two  without  and  I  was  left  with  them  and 
have  consequently  been  in  the  rear  ever  since  the 
cavalry  fight  near  Boonsboro',  Md.  on  the  8th  inst. 
All  the  guns  are  now  in  the  same  condition,  but 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  145 

the  Ordnance  officer  of  the  Division,  Capt.  John 
Esten  Cooke,  perhaps  better  known  as  Tristran 
Joyeuse,  Gent.,  has  sent  to  Staunton  for  ammu- 
nition and  as  Lt.  Johnston  has  gone  to  Richmond 
I  shall  be  done  for  the  present  with  '  Company  Q.' 
I  think  that  when  we  reached  Westminster  Md. 
on  Genl.  Stuart's  expedition  round  the  Yanks,  I 
was  a  little  the  richest  specimen  of  a  Confederate 
officer  that  you,  at  all  events,  ever  saw.  My  boots 
were  utterly  worn  out.  My  pantaloons  were  all 
one  big  hole  as  the  Irishman  would  say:  my  coat 
was  like  a  beggar's — and  my  hat  was  actually 
falling  to  pieces,  in  addition  to  lacking  its  crown, 
which  loss,  allowed  my  hair,  not  cut,  since  some- 
time before  leaving  Culpeper,  to  protrude,  and  gave 
me  a  highly  picturesque  finish  to  my  appearance. 
I  fortunately  there  got  a  pair  of  boots,  a  pair  of 
pantaloons  and  a  hat  which  rendered  my  con- 
dition comparatively  better.  We  left  Union  in 
Loudon  Co.,  Va.,  on  that  expedition  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  24th  of  June — and  reached  the  lines  of 
our  army  at  Gettysburg,  Adams  Co.,  Penn.  late 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  2nd  of  July.  During  that 
time  the  harness  was  off  the  horses  only  twice. 
You  should  have  seen  the  Dutch  people  in  York 
Co.  turning  out  with  water  and  milk  and  bread 
and  butter  and  '  apple  butter '  for  the  '  ragged 
rebels.' 

"  I  was  quite  surprised  at  the  tone  of  feeling  in 
that  part  of  the  State.     In  two  or  three  instances  I 


146  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

found  people  who  seemed  really  glad  to  see  us  and 
at  scores  of  houses  they  had  refreshments  at  the 
door  for  the  soldiers.  The  people  generally  seemed 
not  to  know  exactly  what  to  expect  and  I  don't  think 
would  have  been  at  all  astonished  if  every  build- 
ing had  been  set  on  fire  by  us  as  we  reached  it,  nor 
would  a  great  many  have  been  surprised  if  we  had 
concluded  the  business  by  massacring  the  women 
and  children! 

"  I  stopped  at  a  house  in  Petersburg,  Adams  Co., 
Penn.  and  almost  the  first  question  addressed  me 
by  the  daughter  of  the  house,  a  girl  of  eighteen  or 
twenty  and  a  perfect  Yankee,  was  whether  our 
men  would  molest  the  women!  I  told  her  not, 
and  she  seemed  to  feel  considerably  reassured. 
It  was  this  same  girl  who  told  me  in  all  serious- 
ness that  she  had  heard  and  believed  it,  that  the 
Southern  women  all  wore  revolvers.  I  suppose,  of 
course,  by  this  time  you  have  seen  from  the  papers 
who  has  been  killed,  wounded  and  captured  and 
have  very  little  doubt  that  you  know  more  about 
these  points  than  I  do,  myself,  for  beyond  hearing 
the  ieport  that  Genl.  Lee's  Headquarters  are  at 
Bunker  Hill  and  that  the  Infantry  are  beyond 
Martinsburg  and  some  little  inkling  of  the  position 
of  portions  of  the  Cavalry  Division  I  am  in  the 
same  condition  as  honest  John  Falstaff  before  he 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  Prince  Hal,  and  '  know 
nothing.' 

"  I  received  yesterday  a  double  letter  of  the  23rd 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  147 

of  June  from  you  and  Mama,  the  first  since  I  left 
Rector's  X  Roads  on  the  18th  of  that  month.  Gen. 
Lee  has  issued  an  order  curtailing  all  transporta- 
tion except  that  for  the  Corps  and  General  Reserve 
Ordnance  trains.  This  is  evidently  getting  ready 
for  another  move,  but  whether  it  is  in  order  to 
cross  the  Potomac  again  or  to  fall  back  behind  the 
Rappahannock,  or  merely  to  be  in  readiness  for 
any  movement  of  the  enemy,  is  more  than  your 
correspondent  is  aware  of." 

At  this  time,  the  latter  part  of  July,  1863,  my 
father  wrote  to  Genl.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  asking  for  a 
few  days'  leave  for  my  brother  to  visit  us.  His 
answer  is  given  below,  and  although  containing 
some  personal  allusions  is  inserted  as  being  of  inter- 
est, coming  from  such  a  hand. 

"Hd.  Qrs.  Cov.,  Div.  A.  of  N.  Va. 
"  Dear  General, 

"  I  regret  very  much  that  a  state  of  affairs,  so 
different  from  what  you  expected,  exists  here. 
Instead  of  '  no  active  operations '  you  suppose,  we 
are  in  a  fight  nearly  every  day  and  on  the  4th 
especially  Halsey's  gun  was  particularly  engaged 
at  Fleetwood  and  under  very  heavy  fire,  and  I  am 
gratified  to  inform  you  that  Maj.  Beckham  .speaks 
of  him  as  '  a  very  fine  officer '  in  which  our  expecta- 
tions were  not  disappointed, 

"You   will   readily    understand    that    such    an 


i48  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

officer  cannot  be  spared  in  such  times  to  visit  home 
—but  should  there  be  a  period  when  an  engage- 
ment is  not  daily  expected  in  which  the  Horse 
Artillery  will  not  necessarily  take  part,  I  will  cheer- 
fully approve  his  absence. 

"  I  was  truly  glad  to  hear  the  favorable  accounts 
you  gave  of  Hampton's,  Butler's  and  Hood's 
wounds,  and  sincerely  hope  that  all  three  of  those 
glorious  fellows  will  be  in  the  field  again  for  the 
next  fight.  Hampton  I  fear  will  not  soon  be  with 
us.  His  wound  must  have  been  very  severe. 
Baker,  Black  and  Young  were  all  three  wounded 
in  a  fight  the  other  day  (2nd) .  The  first  mentioned 
is  a  Brigadier  Genl.  and  will  command  the  four 
N.  C.  Regiments. 

"Present  my  kindest  regards  to  Mrs.  Wigfall 
and  any  other  friends  you  may  fall  in  with,  and 
believe  me,  "  Truly  yours, 

"J.  E.  B.  Stuart." 

At  Charlottesville,  about  August  1st  we  were 
joined  by  General  Hood,  then  recovering  from  a 
wound  in  the  arm.  He  remained  about  a  fort- 
night and  then  with  General  Longstreet  left  to 
join  General  Bragg  in  the  West.  General  Long- 
street,  writing  to  my  father  at  this  time,  says: 

"Richmond,  Sept.  12th,  1863. 
"  Dear  General, 

"  I  am  on  my  way  to  join  Bragg,  but  have  some 
hope  that  I  may  not  visit  your  friends  at  Camp 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  149 

Chase.  If  I  should  get  that  far  in  the  enemy's 
country,  however,  I  hope  that  I  may  be  able  to 
bring  your  friends  to  see  you!  .  .  .  Hood's 
Division  are  en  route  and  the  most  of  my  command 
are  rapidly  moving  on  to  Bragg.  I  hope  that  we 
may  be  with  him  in  ten  days  more. 

"  Do  not  forget  me  because  I  have  gone  so  far 
away  from  you. 

"  I  would  write  more,  but  if  I  should  start  to 
go  further  into  matters  I  should  write  more  than  I 
have  time  to  write  or  you  would  be  inclined  to 
read.     I  will  reserve  it  for  a  general  talk. 
"  Most  sincerely  yours, 

"J.    LONGSTREET." 

Soon  after  their  arrival  in  the  West,  on  Septem- 
ber 20th,  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  was  fought  and 
General  Hood,  then  barely  recovered  from  his 
wound  in  the  arm,  was  struck  in  the  thigh  by  a 
minie  ball  which  fractured  five  inches  of  the  bone. 
His  thigh  was  taken  off — four  and  a  half  inches 
below  the  body  and  yet  he  recovered  and  on  Octo- 
ber 8th,  about  three  weeks  after,  I  find  it  recorded: 
"  We  believe  Genl.  Hood  will  recover.  He  believes 
it,  and  is  already  asking  when  he  will  be  able  to 
take  the  field." 

Many  officers  and  soldiers  were  in  Charlottesville 


in  the  fall  of  1863,  recovering  from  their  wounds, 
and  their  presence  in  all  the  stages  of  convalescence 
infused  a  spirit  of  gaiety  to  the  little  town.     Picnics 


iSo  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

were  organized  in  the  bright  autumn  days  to  his- 
toric Monticello.  It  was  difficult  to  secure  any 
mode  of  conveyance;  but  old  "Uncle  Guy's" 
hack,  the  only  available  coach,  was  often  called 
into  requisition,  while  the  remainder  of  the  party 
would  be  mounted  on  sorry  looking  nags,  and 
though  the  riding  habits  were  the  worse  for  wear, 
rather  nondescript  costumes  the  rule,  and  the 
attendant  cavaliers  in  a  more  or  less  disabled  con- 
dition, yet  we  enjoyed  ourselves.  That  the  gallant 
colonel  had  lost  his  eye  in  his  country's  service 
made  the  unsightly  black  patch  a  badge  of  honor 
— and  the  old  ragged,  faded  jacket  with  the  hole 
in  it,  showing  where  the  minie  ball  had  just  missed 
the  brave  heart  beneath  it,  invested  the  boy  captain 
with  added  charm.  One  day  we  had  a  Tourna- 
ment in  the  grounds  at  Monticello.  Some  of  the 
Knights — with  only  one  arm  to  use — holding  the 
reins  in  the  teeth  and  dashing  valiantly  at  the 
rings  with  wooden  sticks,  improvised  as  spears  for 
the  occasion.  I  remember  on  that  day — among 
the  company,  there  was  a  young  officer  connected 
with  the  Commissary  Department,  and  stationed 
in  Charlottesville.  He  had  on  a  beautiful  new 
uniform  and  was  mounted  on  a  fine  black  horse; 
where  or  how  he  had  procured  either  we  could  not 
divine ;  and  he  formed  a  great  contrast  in  his  finery 
to  the  rest  of  the  party.  The  girls  eyed  his  ele- 
gance askance,  and  one  and  all  felt  the  contempt 
for  him  that  all  Southern  women  had  for  a  man  in 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  151 

those  days  who  had  never  "smelt  powder."  The 
men  looked  on  in  amusement  at  the  caracollings 
of  the  fiery  steed  which  made  evolutions  and 
pranced  and  danced  for  the  benefit  of  the  ladies. 
Finally  on  our  way  home  in  his  efforts  to  display 
his  horsemanship  the  noble  steed  became  un- 
manageable, and  his  rider's  "vaulting  ambition" 
having  "o'er  leaped  itself,"  he  literally  "fell  on 
t'other  side  " — in  a  huge  mud  puddle  in  the  road. 
How  we  all  laughed,  as  he  arose  crestfallen;  the 
beautiful  uniform  a  ghastly  wreck  and  his  humilia- 
tion complete.  I  suppose  we  ought  to  have  been 
sorry  for  him — but  in  those  days  the  "  stay  at 
homes  "  had  no  sympathizers.  For  the  men  in  the 
field,  and  for  the  men  in  the  hospitals,  the  Southern 
woman's  heart  overflowed  with  love  and  gratitude 
and  her  hand  was  ready  ever  to  minister  to  their 
wants. 

There  is  a  droll  story  told  of  one  of  these  minis- 
tering angels  in  the  hospital  when  she  approached 
the  bedside  of  an  ill  soldier.  He  looked  wan  and 
weary  and  infinite  pity  filled  her  heart.  "Can  I 
not  do  something  for  you?"  she  asked.  "Would 
you  like  me  to  bathe  your  face?"  He  raised  his 
eyes  and  looked  at  her,  replying  in  dead  earnest, 
with  real  gratitude  for  her  good  intentions,  and 
not  the  slightest  appreciation  of  the  humor  of  the 
situation  : 

"  I  have  had  it  washed  seventeen  times  to-day, 
Miss,  but  you  can  do  it  again  if  you  want  to ! " 


152  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

In  a  letter  from  my  mother,  dated  Charlottes- 
ville, October  25th,  she  writes:  "  I  hope  you  will 
be  able  to  pay  us  a  visit  at  Xmas  in  Richmond. 
We  are  looking  forward  with  much  pleasure  to 
the  winter,  in  spite  of  the  prospect  of  having 
nothing  to  eat  nor  wear!  We  hear  to-day  that 
Genl.  Hood  is  doing  exceedingly  well  and  would 
be  in  Richmond  this  winter.  He  is  going  first  to 
pay  Gen.  Hampton  a  visit  in  Columbia.  Mr.  B.  has 
been  with  him  since  his  wound  and  wrote  to  your 
father  that  he  was  in  fine  spirits  and  bore  it  admir- 
ably.    Genl.  Hampton  is  expected  on  very  soon." 

The  tidings  reached  us  at  this  date  that  my 
brother  had  had  his  horse  killed  under  him  and  I 
find  the  record  on  a  little  scrap  of  paper — the  ink 
faded  and  barely  legible. 

"  Camp  near  Fox's  Ford, 
"Rappahannock  River,  Oct.   13,  1863. 
"Dear  Mama, 

"  We  are  once  more  on  the  campaign.  We  had 
a  running  fight  day  before  yesterday  fighting  all 
day.  My  little  grey  was  killed  under  me  at  the 
first  position  we  went  into.  The  battery  lost  four 
killed  and  wounded,  three  of  them  from  my  section. 
We  crossed  at  Raccoon  Ford  that  morning  and 
camped  at  Brandy  Station  that  night.  We  are 
about  to  move  and  I  must  close.  Love  to  all. 
Goodbye,   dearest  Mama.     In  haste, 

"Your  affectionate  Halsey." 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  153 

"Camp  at  Manassas,  Oct.  16,  1863. 
"Dear  L., 

"  I  wrote  to  Mama  on  the  13th  a  few  lines  which  I 
hope  she  received.  We  have  been  marching  every 
day  since.  We  fired  a  few  shots  day  before  yes- 
terday, but  were  not  replied  to.  One  of  the  best 
soldiers  of  the  battery,  however,  was  mortally 
wounded  by  a  stray  minie  ball.  We  had  a  fight 
yesterday  taking  several  positions.  At  one  of 
them  we  had  three  guns  fighting  about  twelve 
across  Bull  Run  at  Blackburn's  Fort.  They  were 
however  about  two  thousand  yards  and  only  one 
of  our  men  was  hurt — his  leg  shot  off.  One  of  the 
guns  also  had  its  axle  shot  in  two.  It  was  a  pretty 
lively  place  I  can  assure  you.  We  have  lost  six 
men  and  six  horses  killed  and  disabled  since  cross- 
ing the  Rapidan  besides  several  other  horses 
slightly  wounded.  We  are  now  at  the  place  we 
camped  last  night,  horses  harnessed  but  not 
hitched,  and  it  is  much  later  than  we  have  been 
in  camp  for  several  days,  usually  marching 
shortly  after  sunrise.     .     .     ." 

"Camp  at  Buckland. 

"Oct.  19,  1863. 
".  .  .  We  have  had  another  fight  to-day. 
We  marched  from  between  Gainesville  and  Bristow 
Station  before  day  and  passed  that  station  and 
Catlett's  and  then  up  the  Warrenton  road  which 
we  left  about  half  way  between  the  two  places, 


i54  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  *6i 

taking  the  road  leading  to  Buckland  four  miles 
from  Gainesville  on  the  Warrenton  and  Alexandria 
Turnpike.  We  got  in  position  about  twelve 
hundred  yards  from  Battery  '  M,'  2nd  U.  S.  Artil- 
lery, six  guns.  We  had  two.  We  lost  four 
wounded,  Lt.  Shanks  and  Lt.  Johnston  among  the 
number,  neither  dangerously  however.  I  shall 
get  Lt.  Shanks,  who  starts  for  Warrenton  directly, 
to  take  this.  I  think  that  the  Army  is  on  the 
retreat  and  when  we  get  back  I  will  write  a  full 
account  of  our  doings.     .     . 

"On  the  19th  Hampton's  Division  was  on  the 
turnpike  West  of  Gainesville  and  ours  about  mid- 
way between  Gainesville  and  Bristow  Station. 
Before  daylight  we  marched  to  Bristow,  then 
down  to  Catlett's  and  from  there  across  the  coun- 
try by  Auburn  which  lies  about  half  way  between 
Catlett's  and  Warrenton.  At  Auburn  we  left  the 
Warrenton  road  and  took  that  leading  to  Buck- 
land  which  is  four  miles  from  Gainesville  to  the 
West.  Meanwhile  Stuart  with  Hampton's  Divi- 
sion had  been  retiring  before  the  Yankees  along 
the  turnpike  before  Warrenton.  Then  when  the 
Yankees  thought  everything  was  getting  along 
finely,  the  whole  of  Fitz  Lee's  Division  came  in  on 
their  flank  and  before  night  we  had  them  back  on 
their  Infantry  supports  and  some  even  of  the 
latter  on  their  way  to  Richmond.     .     .     ." 

General  Johnston  wrote  to  my  father  from 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR  155 

"Meridian,  Nov.  12th,  1863. 
11  My  dear  Wigfall, 

"  I  received  your  letter  of  the  2nd  yesterday  and 
tried  in  vain  to  find  the  person  who  brought  it.  It 
was  left  with  Col.  B.  S.  Ewell  A.  A.  G.  by  a  con- 
tractor on  his  way  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Coun- 
try. ...  I  congratulate  you  with  all  my 
heart  upon  Halsey's  narrow  escape.  To  have  a 
horse  killed  under  one  puts  a  tall  feather  in  his  cap. 
(I  hope,  however,  it  was  not  the  sorrel  mare.) 
Even  at  present  prices  [horses  were  worth  at  this 
time  about  $3,000]  I'd  freely  give  a  good  horse  to 
the  same  fate.  I  have  been  having  a  very  quiet 
time  since  July.  Almost  a  peace  establishment 
so  we  have  gone  to  house  keeping.  I  say  we,  for 
Mrs.  Johnston  joined  me  two  weeks  ago.  I  think 
Fanny  would  be  delighted  to  see  the  style  with 
which  her  namesake  trots  up  to  the  door  when  she 
sees  her  mistress  in  it.  Her  mistress  enjoys  it 
greatly.  I  am  at  last  making  a  report. 
"  Very  truly  yours, 

"J.  E.  Johnston." 


SUFFERING  IN  THE  SOUTH 


CHAPTER   IX 

Suffering  in  the  South 

THE   PRESIDENT   OF   THE    CONFEDERACY WHAT   ONE   WOMAN 

ENDURED HIGH      PRICE      OF      FOOD      AND      CLOTHING A 

FALSE   ALARM A    PROPOSAL    TO    RECRUIT    THE    ARMY   OF 

THE  CONFEDERACY  WITH  SLAVES. 

At  this  time  the  deepest  anxiety  was  felt  for  the 
success  of  our  cause  in  the  West — and  my  father's 
advocacy  of  General  J.  E.  Johnston's  being  given 
the  control  of  affairs  in  that  department  was 
earnest  and  persistent.  But  it  was  disregarded 
by  the  President;  and  led  to  a  severance  of  their 
friendly  relations.  While  he  never  varied  in  his 
estimate  of  the  President's  sincerity,  integrity  and 
patriotism,  nor  ceased  to  admire  the  pure  and 
noble  character  of  the  man — he  never  could 
justify  his  absolute  refusal  to  waive  his  private 
judgment  in  the  crisis  of  his  country's  trial  and 
hearken  to  the  appeals  of  men  whose  patriotism 
and  judgment  he  should  have  regarded  as  cer- 
tainly the  equals  of  his  own.  That  he  erred,  erred 
fatally,  no  one  cognizant  of  the  state  of  affairs  at 
the  time  can  doubt ;  but  it  is  equally  sure  that  the 
penalty  of  his  mistakes  was  borne  with  a  dignity 
and  serene  courage  which  excited  the  admiration 

i59 


160  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

of  the  world.  In  modern  times  there  has  been  no 
such  spectacle  as  that  frail  old  man,  the  chief 
magistrate  of  eight  millions  of  people,  lying 
manacled  in  a  dungeon,  bearing  vicariously  the 
sufferings  and  penalties  of  his  people!  He  may 
have  erred — but  when  the  fetters  were  placed 
upon  him  the  Southern  people  forgot  every- 
thing but  that  he  was  their  first  and  only  Presi- 
dent. 

In  a  letter  written  by  my  father  at  this  time  he 
says :  "  Davis  is  still  in  the  West  and  is  not  expected 
back  for  a  week  or  ten  days.  He  seems  determined 
to  sustain  Bragg  and  Pemberton,  cost  what  it  may 
to  the  Country.  John  A.  Wharton  of  Texas  has 
been  lately  made  a  Major  General  of  Cavalry.  He 
told  me  when  here  that  the  dissatisfaction  with 
Bragg  was  universal  in  the  Western  Army  and  a 
general  desire  to  be  commanded  by  Johnston.  I 
got  a  letter  from  Seddon  a  few  days  ago  saying 
that  the  President  was  determined  to  keep  Bragg 
in  command,  not  that  he  thought  him  a  great 
General,  but  that  he  was  better  than  any  with 
whom  he  could  replace  him.  That  is,  than  John- 
ston or  Longs treet." 

My  mother  writes: 

"Charlottesville,  Nov.  26th,   1863. 
".     .     .     We  hear  to-night  that  the  Army  is  to 
move,  it  is  thought  to  Fredericksburg. 

"  The  news  from  the  West  has  made  every  one 


Published  by  E.  Anthony,  501  Broadway.  N.  Y., 
from  photographic  negative  from  Brady's  National  Portrait  Gallery,  1352-1839 

PRESIDENT    JEFFERSON    DAVIS 


SUFFERING  IN  THE  SOUTH         161 

look  very  blue — and  I  should  think  Mr.  Davis 
would  feel  very  uncomfortable  with  such  a  weight 
to  carry.  .  .  .  What  is  to  happen  next  no  one 
can  tell.  We  are  all  quite  busy  getting  ready  to 
go  to  Richmond.  We  leave  here  Monday,  Dec. 
i st.  .  .  .  I  had  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Johnston 
a  few  days  ago.  She  was  with  her  husband  at 
Meridian.  I  expect  he  feels  very  keenly  his  present 
position;  it  is  certainly  an  odd  one — for  such  a 
general,  at  such  a  time — no  army  and  nothing  to 
do.  I  suppose  you  have  seen  by  the  papers  that 
Genl.  Hood  is  in  Richmond.  We  hear  that  Dr. 
Darby  is  going  to  Europe  to  buy  a  leg  for  him,  so 
Gen'l  Ewell  told  your  father;  he  is  up  here  at 
present  with  his  wife." 

I  find  in  another  letter  of  December  5th:  "  Gen. 
Hood  is  in  town  and  Dr.  Darby  has  gone  to  Europe 
to  procure  a  leg  for  the  General  with  the  money 
contributed  by  the  Texas  Brigade.  Gen.  Hood 
looks  remarkably  well  and  bears  his  misfortune 
with  the  greatest  cheerfulness." 

General  Johnston  writes : 

"Brandon,  Dec.  14th,  1863. 
"  My  dear  Wigfall: 

"  I  see  in  the  newspapers  reports  of  resolutions 
of  what  is  called  the  Mississippi  campaign.  One 
of  them  calling  for  the  correspondence  connected 
with  it. 


1 62  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

"  Let  me  suggest  that  the  campaign  really  com- 
menced in  the  beginning  of  December,  1862 — 
and  that  my  connection  with  it  dates  from  Novem- 
ber 24th  of  that  year — the  day  on  which  I  was 
assigned  to  supervision  of  Bragg's,  Pemberton's 
and  Kirby  Smith's  Commands.  If  investigation 
is  made  it  should  include  that  time,  to  make  it 
complete.  Or  if  correspondence  or  papers  are 
called  for  begin  with  the  order  of  November  24th 
just  referred  to.  At  that  time  we  had  the  means 
of  preventing  the  invasion  of  Mississippi  and  those 
means  were  pointed  out  by  me  in  writing,  as  well 
as  orally,  to  the  Secretary  of  War  in  your  presence. 
Such  a  publication  would  justify  me  fully  in  the 
opinions  of  all  thinking  men.  It  would  show  that 
while  it  was  practicable  I  proposed  the  true 
system  of  warfare.  That  I  could  not  go  to  Miss- 
issippi sooner  than  I  did,  and  that  I  was  '  too  late ' 
to  repair  the  consequences  of  previous  measures 
and  never  had  the  means  of  rescuing  Vicksburg 
or  its  garrison. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"J.  E.  Johnston." 

The  following  letter  from  a  South  Carolina 
mother  gives  a  picture  of  the  time  and  the  suffer- 
ing_of  „jQiir  „ w.omen^-during_  the  war :'. ~ "The'  writer 
was  one  of  a  family  who  for  generations  had  had 
large  wealth  and  had  lived  all  her  life  surrounded 
by  luxury. 


SUFFERING  IN  THE  SOUTH         163 

"Dec.  15th,  1863. 
"  I  have  passed  many  anxious  months  lately, 
in  this  siege  of  Charleston.  My  only  child  and 
son  was  at  Fort  Sumter,  a  First  Lieutenant  in 
the  1st  Regular  Artillery  Regiment.  He  passed 
through  the  first  attack  in  April  safely — though 
occupying  a  post  of  danger,  but,  on  the  17th  of 
August,  in  the  attack  upon  Sumter  from  the 
enemy's  land  batteries,  on  Morris  Island,  my  poor 
boy  was  wounded  by  a  fragment  of  a  200-pound 
parrott  shell :  he  was  slightly  cut  in  the  back  of  the 
head  and  wounded  in  two  places  in  the  shoulder; 
and  picked  up  insensible.  I  went  to  him  as  soon 
as  the  news  reached  us  of  his  being  wounded,  but 
was  but  two  days  in  Charleston,  when  we  were 
roused  from  our  slumbers,  at  two  hours  past 
midnight,  by  the  enemy  shelling  the  town  filled 
with  sleeping,  helpless  women  and  children.  The 
next  day  I  left  with  my  wounded  boy  to  return 
to  my  quiet  home  in  Georgia.  He  was  with  me 
but  ten  days,  when  he  returned  to  Charleston, 
though  he  had  not  then  recovered  the  use  of  his 
right  hand  and  arm,  which  had  been,  from  the 
severe  contusions  on  the  shoulder,  entirely  par- 
alyzed. He  had  been  in  command  of  his  company, 
at  Sumter,  since  the  first  of  the  attack,  his  captain 
being  absent  on  sick  leave,  so  that  he  was  anxious 
to  return  to  duty  and  has  been  ever  since,  for  the 
last  three  months,  at  a  battery  on  James  Island, 
near   Fort   Johnson,   where   I   am   again   anxious 


v/\i64 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 


V^ 


about  him.  He  is  a  devoted  son,  and  the  trial 
to  me  of  having  the  boy  so  constantly  exposed  to 
danger  is  almost  more  than  I  can  bear.  ...  I 
had  hoped  you  were  spared  the  anxiety  of  having 
an  only  son  in  the  service,  so  young  as  he  is,  I 
can  truly  feel  for  you,  but  then  he  is  not  your  only 
child.  You  have  daughters  at  home  to  cheer  and 
comfort  you.  I  never  wished  until  this  cruel 
war  that  my  son  had  been  a  daughter,  but  we 
must  believe  it  is  ordered  for  the  best.  I  was  made 
very  happy  last  week  by  my  son's  return  to  us  on 
a  short  leave — he  makes  everything  bright  and 
joyous  for  me  and  I_jnjaa  him  sadly  when  jaway. 
If  we  had  only  had  a  navy  to  fight  for  us,  as  the 
army  has  done,  this  war  would  have  ended  in  a 
few  months,  I  imagine;  and  now,  who  can  see  the 
end  of  it?  With  the  coming  spring  instead  of 
peace  and  joy,  when  the  earth  is  all  beautiful  and 
smiling,  we  are  told  to  prepare  for  another  fierce 
attack  of  our  cruel  foe  and  more  carnage  and  blood 
and  slaughter  await  us.  My  heart  sickens  at  the 
thought.  I  heard  from  Aunt  N.  from  New  York, 
December  6th.  She  seems  very  miserable  about 
us  all,  and  wishes  Ijyere  in  New  York^tQ-^share 
some  of  the  many  comforts  they  enjoy.  Much 
aj>Jj9n££jik£jd_J^ 

again  and  would  rather  starve,  and  die  here  than 
live  and  gro^ia^undejr_L_incoln|    They  have  no 

idea ,    eyen_Qjar-^S.QUth ern .^friends   there, of  _the_. 

feelings  aroused  in  our  hearts  by  this  war.     I  am 


SUFFERING  IN  THE  SOUTH         165 

busy  getting  John  ready  to  return  to  his  post  on 

James  Island.     As  it  breaks  my  heart  to  think  of 

the  poor  boy  being  on  picket  all  night  in  the  rain 

and  having  only  dry  hominy  and  cold  water  for 

breakfast,  I  am  scouring  the  country  to  buy  syrup  <S 

and  eggs  and  a  few  comforts  to  keep  him  from  p 

starving." 


s 


p       t. 

A  >3 


\  f 


>F  ^  J 


Poor   little    mother    hearL^jiow    it    beat    and  ^r       AV    .j, 
throbbed  "With  pairi^anj~anixiety,  and  with  it  all,     '0  v  %        ^ 


tf 

^ 


o 


no  talk  of  wanting  to  give~upTHe"fight.     Such     \aj  '     ^r 
womenr^srthese  were  the  rule,  ~no^_tIrie~exception; 
such    women    as    these    were    the    mothers,    who 
made  the  soldiers  in  the  armies  of  the  Confederacy.     / 

Thejyjntpr  nf  ^3-' 64 .saw  us  b^c^in_RichLmond. 
The  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  inactive 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  but  made  a 
campaign  of  heroic  endurance  without  parallel, 
for  suffering  and  privation.  With  no  proper 
shelter,  half  clothed,  many  without  shoes,  and 
barely  enough  food  to  keep  away  starvation,  they 
bore  the  rigors  of  the  season,  the  cold  rains  and 
snows,  the  dreary  days  and  long  nights  of  discom- 
fort with  no  blankets  to  cover  them,  without  a 
murmur.     The  currency  was  now  so  depreciated  4      A 

that  the  pay  of  the  highest^offic^s^^was^jnadg-Q^^e      .l/JwiAr^ 
for  their  wants.     With  cornmeal  at  $50  a  bushel;     ^UcJjJt 
beansat  $60;  bacon  at  $8  and  sugar  at  $20  a  pound 
it   was  almost  impossible  to  procure  theTneces- 
saries   of   life   in   Richmond — and  vet   I    do   not 


i& 


i66 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 


remember  during  that _wy»tptr  of  suffering  and 
lave  heard-i^ie~FVeTTtuaT^ucceii" 
"THFspTrits  ot  the  people 
generally  were  bright  and  buoyant.  The  question 
of  clothes  became  a  burning  one,  and  many  were 
the  devices  resorted  to  in  order  to  meet  the  needs 
of  the  occasion.  Early  in  March  Dahlgren's  raid 
around  Richmond  took  place  and  struck  terror 
into  the  hearts  of  the  women  and  children  when 
the  character  of  the  orders  captured  on  his  person 
were  known.  It  was  stated  and  believed  at  the 
time  that  he  and  his  command  had  volunteered  for 
this  expedition.  He  was  repulsed  and  lost  his 
life  in  the  attempt,  which  resulted  in  absolute 
failure.  The  orders  found  on  his  person  were 
explicit,  and  most  extraordinary,  when  viewed 
in  the  light  of  the  usual  rules  governing  civilized 
warfare.  He  was  ordered  to  burn  the  city  of 
Richmond,  and  the  oakum  and  turpentine  to 
carry  out  this  purpose  were  found  with  him.  He 
was  ordered  to  sack  and  loot  the  city,  then  filled 
with  helpless  women  and  children — and  to  the 
mercy  of  God  we  owe  it  that  he  was  prevented 
from  carrying  out  his  purpose,  and  that  an  awful 
crime  against  civilization  and  humanity  was  not 
committed.  My  father  said  at  the  time,  and  I 
have  lived  to  see  his  prophecy  come  true,  that 
in  future  years  no  one  would  believe  that  such 
orders  had  been  given  or  such  an  expedition  organ- 
ized, but  these  are  facts  nevertheless.     All  during 


SUFFERING  IN  THE  SOUTH         167 

that  early  spring  the  alarms  in  Richmond  of  an 
attack  on  the  city  were  frequent ;  and  at  any  hour 
of  the  day  or  night  would  be  heard  the  sound  of 
the  alarm  bells  ringing  and  all  the  remaining  men 
in  the  town,  the  clerks  and  civil  officers,  would 
gather  up  their  arms  and  rally  to  the  defence  of 
their  homes  and  the  protection  of  their  families. 
Itjgas  a  wrPtrhffl  time  of  anxiety  almost  unbear- 
able*— """*"" ■ " 

I  recall  one  night  particularly  when  I  had  been 
beguiled  into  reading  until  a  late  hour  the  charmed 
pages  of  Dickens's  "Tale  of  Two  Cities."  It  was 
about  one  o'clock  and  all  the  household  were  fast 
asleep;  when  far  down  Main  Street  I  heard  the 
clattering  of  many  hoofs,  and  the  shouts  of  soldiery. 
I  rushed  to  my  father's  door,  and  called  him.  He 
dressed  with  all  haste,  and  buckled  on  his  sword 
and  pistol,  which  lay  always  ready  to  hand.  Then 
he  calmed  and  quieted  the  terrified  women  and 
children  who  had  been  aroused  by  the  noise.  A 
moment  we  waited,  as  the  sounds  came  nearer 
and  nearer.  We  were  sure  the  Yankees  were  upon 
us — and  I  must  confess  that,  fnr  jfaefirst  and  only 


time  during  the  war  I  felt  terrified.  As  the  troops 
came  in  sight  they  slackened  their  pace — and  to 
our  joy,  we  found  it  was  a  company  of  Fitz  Lee's 
Cavalry  clattering  through  the  town  and  for  pure 
mischief  rousing  the  sleeping  inhabitants.  How 
we  cheered  them  when  we  saw  the  "red  heart" 
gleaming  on  their  grey  coats,  and  knew  that  we 


1 68  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

could  go  to  our  beds  in  peace  and  sleep  safe  and 
sound  with  Fitz  Lee's  men  on  guard! 

The  following  letter  from  General  Johnston 
suggested  a  method  for  recruiting  the  army. 

"  Dalton,  Jan.  4th,  1864. 
"  My  dear  Wigfall: 

"It  is  necessary  to  recruit  this  army  promptly 
to  enable  it  to  hold  its  ground  against  Grant's 
forces.  Remember  that  it  was  unable  to  move 
forward  even  before  it  had  been  weakened  by  the 
defeat  of  Missionary  Ridge,  and  Longstreet's  march 
into  East  Tennessee,  and  the  enemy  strengthened 
by  his  victory  and  25,000  men  brought  from 
Mississippi  by  Sherman. 

"  \  propose  to  siibstitute=jIa5zes^or^alL^ol4Jgrs 
employed  out  of  thej^nks-— on  detached  service, 
"extra  duty,  as  c^6^s^ngineers7-daborers,  pioneers, 
or  any  kind  of  work.  Such  details  for  this  little 
army  amounT"tolnore  than  10,000  men.  Negroes 
would  serve  for  such  purposes,  better  than  soldiers. 
The  impressment  of  negroes  has  been  practised 
ever  since  the  War  commenced — but  we  have 
never  been  able  to  keep  the  impressed  negroes 
with  an  army  near  the  enemy.  They  desert.  If 
you  can  devise  and  pass  a  law  to  enable  us  to 
hold  slaves  or  other  negroes  with  armies,  this  one 
can,  in  a  few  weeks,  be  increased  by  the  number 
given  above — of  soldiers — not  conscripts.  Is  not 
this  worth  trying?     We_j^quire,==pr©rnptness  here 


SUFFERING  IN  THE  SOUTH         169 

and  this  is  the  only  prompt  way  of  sending  us 
soldiers.  The  proposed  modifications  of  the  con- 
scrrpTTaw  are  good,  but  then  operations  cannot 
help  us  in  the  present  emergency.  The  plan  is 
simple  and  quick.  It  puts  soldiers  and  negroes 
each  in  his  appropriate  place ;  the  one  to  fight,  the 
other  to  work.  I  need  not  go  into  particulars 
in  this  matter.  You  understand  it  as  well  as  I. 
Now  do  apply  your  energy  and  zeal  to  it.  There 
is  no  other  mode  by  which  this  army  can  be 
recruited  before  spring — and  there  is  no  other 
so  good  as  this.  Speak  to  General  Sparrow  and 
Mr.  Miles  for  me  on  this  subject.  I  would  write 
to  them  both  but  am  so  pressed  for  time  as  to  be 
unable  to  do  so. 

"As  ever  yours, 

"J.  E.  Johnston." 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE 


CHAPTER  X 

Lines  from  the  Losing  Side 

FROM  CAPTAIN  WIGFALL  ON  GENERAL  HOOD'S  STAFF AFTER 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS THE  WOUNDED  ARRIVE 

AT  CHARLOTTESVILLE — JOURNEY  FROM  ATLANTA  TO  MACON 

IN  A  HOSPITAL  TRAIN GENERAL  JOHNSTON  SUPERSEDED 

BY   GENERAL  HOOD MRS.   CLAY'S   TRIBUTE   TO   THE 

FORMER THE  EVACUATION  OF  ATLANTA. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1864,  my  brother 
joined  General  Hood  in  the  West,  as  one  of  his 
staff,  and  writes  from  Dal  ton,  date  March  21st: 

" .  .  .  .  I  have  just  returned  from  a  ride 
with  some  of  'the  staff'  looking  at  the  country. 
I  think  Gen.  Hood  is  quite  anxious  for  a  fight 
and  I  have  no  doubt  will  distinguish  himself 
whenever  it  does  come.  He  brought  a  carriage 
up  from  Atlanta  when  he  came,  but  has  sent  it 
back,  and  rides  everywhere  on  horseback.  He 
is  out  nearly  every  day  and  rides  from  twelve  to 
fifteen   and   twenty   miles   without   dismounting. 

"  .  .  .  I  heard  a  sermon  yesterday  from  Gen. 
Pendleton,  who  I  wrote  in  my  last  to  Papa 
is  out  here  inspecting  the  artillery  of  the  army. 
He  read  the  service,  and  it  had  a  very  familiar 

i73 


174  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  *6i 

sound  with  the  exception  of  the  hymns,  which 
were  from  the  prayer  book,  but  sung  to  the  regular 
old  Camp-meeting  tunes,  through  the  nose.  .  .  . 
April  9.  .  .  .  The  sham  battle  of  General  Har- 
dee's Corps  took  place  on  Thursday,  and  was  wit- 
nessed by  a  large  number  of  ladies  from  all  parts 
of  the  State.  There  was  a  party  of  them  at 
Gen.  Hood's  for  several  days  and  the  evening 
after  the  battle  we  had  a  dance  at  Hd.  Qurs. 
to  which  was  gathered  'the  beauty  and  the 
chivalry.'  It  was  a  decided  success  and  was 
almost  fashionably  crowded.  ,  I  indulged  slightly 
in  the  galop  and  deuxtemps  and  wish  L.  could  have 
seen  me.  There  are  to  be  some  tableaux  a  few 
miles  below  here  at  a  country  house  on  the  rail- 
road Monday  evening,  to  which  the  General  and 
his  staff  are  invited.  I  expect  there  will  be  a  good 
deal  of  gaiety  in  Dal  ton,  (that  is,  for  the  army) 
until  the  war  begins,  which  from  all  appearance 
is  as  far  off  as  ever.  Tell  Papa  that  the  army  is 
very  much  '  down  on '  Congress  for  the  ration  bill 
and  ask  him  to  be  sure  and  have  it  remedied  as 
soon  as  the  session  begins.  I  have  heard  several 
plans  proposed  by  officers  for  inviting  one  or  two 
members  of  Congress  now  with  the  army  to  a  '  one 
ration  a  day  dinner.'  Something  of  this  sort,  for 
instance:  The  entertainer  would  be  very  gen- 
erous and  have  the  whole  day's  ration  served  for 
dinner.  He  would  divide  the  pound  and  a  quarter 
of  meal,  the  quarter  of  a  pound  of  hominy  and  the 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE     175 

third  of  a  pound  of  bacon  into  three  parts  and 
give  his  guest  one,  take  one  himself  and  set  one 
aside  for  his  servant.  However,  we  all  live  in 
feope  of  thebetter  tixne^  conning, ' ' 

"April  29.  .  .  .  There  was  a  review  to-day. 
of  all  the  infantry  and  artillery  of  the  army.  The 
reviewing  officer  was  Gen.  Johnston,  who  rode 
down  the  line,  halting  opposite  each  brigade  to 
receive  its  salute.  He  then  took  his  position  and 
the  troops  marched  in  review  past  him.  Mrs.  John- 
ston was  there  and  a  good  many  other  ladies  and  I 
expect  enjoyed  the  -spectacle  though  the  wind  was 
high  and  the  dust  insufferable.  Mrs.  Johnston  spoke 
to-day  of  your  and  Fanny's  being  with  her  this  sum- 
mer. I  have  no  doubt  you  will  have  a  very  pleasant 
time  indeed,  and  if  the  Army  is  inactive  I  shall 
doubtless  be  able  to  run  down  to  see  you.     .     .     . 

"We  are  barely  managing  to  exist  on  the  third 
of  a  pound  of  bacon.  We  keep  -UDQjir-~^piriJts_, 
_haw-ever-T~-and  hope  for  the  tirhewhen  Congress 
shall  intervene  in  our  behalf  and  satisfy  the  Oliver 
Twists  of  the  Army.  A  friend  of  one  of  our  mess 
the  other  day  sent  a  turkey  and  you  should  have 
seen  our  countenances  as  we  prepared  to  devour 
him.     ..." 

In  the  Spring  of  1864  board  in  the  country 
towns  in  Virginia  was  hard  to  obtain  at  any  price 
and  $300  was  charged  a  month  in  Charlottesville 
for  poor  accommodations  and  wretched  fare. 


176  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

I  find  this  item,  May  3rd,  1864:  "  It  is  very  un- 
comfortable  at  Mrs.   ,   as  they  allowance 

each  person  to  butter,  etc.  Things  are  in  a  dread- 
ful state.  Have  you  tried  to  get  your  shoes 
mended?  I  am  completely  unshod,  as  my  boot 
gave  way  entirely  yesterday  in  my  walk  with  P." 

The  battle  of  the  Wilderness  took  place  at  this 
time  and  a  letter  from  Charlottesville,  May  9th, 
gives  the  following: 

" .  .  .  Charlottesville  is  in  a  whirl  of  excite- 
ment and  the  ladies  go  in  crowds  to  the  depot  to 
assist  the  wounded,  who  come  in  train  after  train. 
We  are  all  going  this  afternoon  laden  with  ice- 
water,  buttermilk,  etc.,  to  see  what  we  can  do. 
Dr.  C.  is  going  with  us  and  I  hope  we  will  do  some 
good.  It  was  urged  by  Mr.  Meade  in  church 
yesterday  that  the  ladies  should  render  their 
assistance,  as  upwards  of  four  or  five  thousand  are 
expected  this  afternoon. 

"There  is  nothing  new  this  morning.  Every- 
thing is  very  favorable  and  yesterday  evening 
there  was  a  rumor  that  Grant,  being  defeated, 
was  entrenching,  and  Lee,  also;  the  latter  to  send 
troops  to  Richmond,  which  is  threatened  on  the 
south  side  and  has  only  14,000  at  present.  Beau- 
regard in  command.  It  is  also  said  that  Pickett 
had  driven  the  enemy  back  below  Petersburg. 
There  are  thousands  of  rumors  and  we  are  satis- 
fied with  knowing  we  have  been  victorious  thus 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE     177 

far.  Gen.  Longstreet  passed  through  here  yes- 
terday, painfully,  but  not  seriously,  wounded  in 
the  shoulder. 

"  I  told  you  in  my  last  the  package  had  come 
safely  and  I  will  be  very  careful  of  it.  The  prices 
for  mending  shoes  are  so  exorbitant  that  I  expect 
I  had  better  wait  and  have  them  mended  in  the 
country." 

As  the  summer  advanced  the  journey  to  Texas, 
which  necessitated  crossing  the  Mississippi  river, 
and  which  had  been  abandoned  by  my  father  and 
mother  the  previous  summer  on  account  of  the 
perils  to  be  incurred,  became  imperative.  It  was 
determined  to  undertake  it  at  all  hazards,  though 
it  involved  a  separation  of  months  from  their 
children,  uncertainty  of  the  fate  of  an  only  son, 
who  was  daily  exposed  to  danger  in  the  army,  and 
the  encountering  of  difficulties  which  were  enough 
to  have  deterred  even  the  bold  spirit  of  my  father, 
to  say  nothing  of  my  mother,  whom  the  anticipa- 
tion must  have  filled  with  dread.  With  the  quiet 
heroism  of  the  women  of  that  day,  she  never 
faltered  where  duty  led,  and  I  find  no  record  of 
any  hesitation  or  question  as  to  her  sharing  my 
father's  dangers  on  that  journey  to  the  home 
from  which  he  had  now  been  absent  nearly  four 
years.  As  it  was,  of  course,  impossible  that  we 
should  accompany  them,  my  sister  and  I  (then 
girls  of  twelve  and  seventeen  years  of  age,  respec- 


178  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  *6i 

tively,)  were  left  in  the  charge  of  Mrs.  Joseph  E. 
Johnston  at  Atlanta ;  General  Johnston  being  then 
in  command  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee. 

Mrs.  Johnston  was  temporarily  settled  in  a  little 
house,  furnished  with  cots,  tables  and  chairs 
borrowed  from  the  hospitals,  and  some  few  articles 
lent  by  kind  friends  in  an  effort  to  make  the  wife 
of  the  commanding  General  a  little  more  com- 
fortable. We  had  also  the  General's  mess  chest 
with  its  supply  of  table  cutlery,  spoons,  etc.,  "six 
of  everything,"  and  the  other  members  of  the 
party  brought  in  to  the  general  aid  of  the  establish- 
ment all  we  could  "muster"  in  the  way  of  addi- 
tions to  the  store.  Here  we  were  quiet  for  a 
few  weeks,  when  the  position  of  affairs  at  Atlanta 
became  so  uncertain  that  General  Johnston  thought 
it  best  for  us  to  be  sent  to  Macon.  In  a  letter 
written  to  my  mother  on  her  journey  (which 
reached  her  at  Meridian,  Mississippi,)  I  say: 

"Macon,  July  nth,  1864. 
"  .  .  .  You  see  by  the  heading  of  my  letter 
that  already  we  have  been  forcedjta  leave-Atlanta, 
— not  that  it  has  fallen,  but  Mrs.  Johnston  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  the  General  in  which  he 
advised  her  to  send  us  off  at  once — to  remain  until 
the  fate  of  the  city  was  decided  either  one  way 
or  the  other.  Col.  Brewster  and  Brother  (who 
came  from  camp  near  Atlanta  for  a  conference) 
agreed  with  her  in  thinking  it  best  for  us  to  go — 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE     179 

as  the  machinery jj^vp-mrngri*  <zj-nrp^)  n-nd  TyffljrwjpH 

f rom  ^tKe^ospitals  were  being  remcmed,  and  foerp, 
was^-iiu  telling  how  suun-tt  might -he_exceedingly 
difficult  '^  ™+  impossibk  to  gej^jiway.  Mrs. 
Johnston  will  remain  till  the  last  moment  prac- 
ticable, and  then,  in  case  of  a  rush  to  the  cars,  she 
has  her  carriage  in  which  she  can  come.  The  plan 
is  now,  if^  Atlanta  falls,  for  her  to  come  imme- 
diately to  Macon,  and  try  to  get  a  house.  Col. 
Ewell  (of  Gen.  Johnston's  staff)  is  obliged  to 
have  an  office  in  the  rear  of  the  Army,  and  this 
will  be  as  convenient  a  place  as  he  can  procure.  If 
she  fails  in  getting  the  house  or  rooms  here,  she 
will  try  to  be  accommodated  at  some  little  village 
on  the  way  between  here  and  Atlanta;  and  I 
rather  think  she  would  prefer  this  arrangement 
as  it  would  bring  her  nearer  the  army.  If  au 
contraire  Atlanta  should  not  fall,  we  will  return 
to  her  as  soon  as  that  fact  is  decided;  and  the 
same  will  be  done  as  soon  as  she  gets  settled  in  her 
new  quarters,  (wherever  they  may  be)  if  obliged 
to  move.  In  the  meantime  we  are  with  Mrs. 
Clay." 

I  shall  never  forget,  the  n^rr^rff  of  that  journey 
from  Atlanta  to  Mapon  We  left  in  a  hospital 
train,  filled  with  wounded,  sick  and  dying  soldiers, 
in  all  imaginable  stages  of  disease  and  suffering. 
My  little  sister  and  myself  and  one  other  lady 
were    the    only    other    passengers    on    the    train, 


180  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

except  the  officer  put  in  charge  of  us  to  see  us  safe 
to  our  journey's  end.  T  np.v^r  imagined  what 
aJajdeous,  cruel  thingWar  was  until  T  a^sbrou^it 
into,  direct  contact  with  these  poor  victims  n£ 
"Man/s  inhumanity  to  man."  For  this  was  no 
modern  hospital  train  with  scientific  arrange- 
ments for  hygiene  and  the  relief  of  suffering.  There 
was  scant  supply  of  the  common  comforts,  and 
even  decencies  of  life  —  no  cushions  nor  air 
pillows  for  weary  heads;  no  ice  to  cool  the  fevered 
thirst ;  no  diet  kitchen  for  broths  and  delicate  food 
for  these  half  starved  sufferers ;  no  wine  or  brandy 
to  revive  the  failing  pulse  and  stimulate  the  weak- 
ened vitality;  not  even  medicine  enough  to  check 
the  ravages  of  disease;  nor  anaesthetics  nor  ano- 
dynes to  ease  their  agonies — for  the  supply  of 
medicines  and  anodynes  was  daily  diminishing, 
and  they  could  not  be  replaced,  as  our  foes  had 
declared  them  "contraband  of  war!"  There  was 
not  even  a  place  in  that  crowded  car  where  the 
sick  could  lie  down;  but,  packed  in  as  close  as 
possible  on  the  hard  uncomfortable  seats,  they 
made  that  journey,  as  best  they  might,  in  un- 
complaining martyrdom.  I  reached  Macon  sick 
at  heart  over  the  suffering  I  had  witnessed  and  was 
so  powerless  to  avert. 

We  heard  from  our  travellers  from  various 
points  on  their  route  before  they  reached  the 
Mississippi  river;  the  last  tidings  being  dated 
"Jackson,  July  29."     They  were  then  on  the  eve 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE     181 

of  starting,  having  been  detained  there  three  days, 
making  arrangements  for  the  adventure. 

An  ambulance,  drawn  by  mules,  had  been 
secured,  and  in  this,  as  small  a  portion  of  luggage 
had  been  stowed  as  it  was  possible  to  manage  with, 
and  the  journey  to  the  river  began.  It  was  four 
months  before  we  heard  from  them  again.  In  the 
meantime,  events  had  been  occurring  rapidly — 
and  on  July  1 7th,  General  Johnston  was  removed 
from- the  command,  of  the  Armv?  and  General 
Tjnnrl  put  in  hJSJ^^f  I  find  in  a  letter  from  my 
brother,  who  was  on  General  Hood's  staff,  the  fol- 
lowing account: 

"Atlanta,  July  31st,   1864. 

"  .  .  .  You  doubtless  have  heard  before  this 
reaches  you  of  the  removal  of  General  Johnston, 
and  the  placing  of  Gen.  Hood  in  command  of  the 
Army.  The  dispatch  was  received  the  night  of 
the  seventeenth,  and  Genl.  Johnston's  farewell 
address  bore  that  date.  The  three  corps  com- 
manders next  day  telegraphed  to  Richmond  re- 
questing that  the  order  should  be  revoked,  but 
it  was  refused.  This  is  what  I  understood  and  I 
think  it  is  true.  Genl.  Hood  accordingly  assumed 
command  that  day,  the  18th.  Gen.  Johnston 
went  into  Atlanta  that  morning  and  left  for  Macon 
next  day.  I  rode  into  town  in  the  evening  to  say 
good-bye  and  saw  Mrs.  Johnston  and  himself. 
No  one  could  ever  have  told  from  his  countenance 
or  manner  that  anything  unusual  had  occurred. 


182 


A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  *6i 


Indeed  he  seemed  in  rather  better  spirits  than 
usual  though  it  must  have  been  at  the  cost  of 
much  exertion.     An  universal  gloom  seemed  cast 

ipy  were  entirely  (jevoterl  to 


over  the  army,  tor 

*^-  m     i  _— a—*1  "'"'  ■■■■■■■■- 

him.  Gen.  Hood,  however,  has  all  the  qualities 
to  attach  men  to  him,  and  it  was  not  a  comparison 
between  the  two,  but  love  for,  and  confidence  in, 
Gen.  Johnston  which  caused  the  feeling  I  have 
before  alluded  to.  Gen.  Hood,  as  you  will  see, 
assumed  command  under  circumstances  of  no  ordi- 
nary difficulty.  He  has  applied  himself,  however, 
heart  and  soul  to  the  task  and  I  sincerely  trust  will 
bring  us  out  of  the  campaign  with  benefit  to  the 
country  arid  honor  to  himself.  The  Administration, 
of  course,  is  compelled  to  support  him  both  with 
moral  and  material  aid,  and  that  assistance  which 
was  asked  for  by  General  Johnston  unsuccessfully 
will  no  doubt  be  afforded  now.  A  portion  if  not 
all  of  Gen.  Roddy's  command  is  now  on  the  way, 
if  it  did  not  reach  here  to-night.  If  Gen.  Forrest 
is  thrown  on  the  road  in  their  rear  everything  will 
be  as  we  want  it.  Time  will  tell  us  all.  On  the 
20th,  Stewart  and  Hardee  advanced  on  the  enemy 
in  their  front  and  drove  them  a  short  distance 
before  them  capturing  some  prisoners  and  one  or 
two  stands  of  colors.  On  the  22nd,  Gen.  Hardee's 
corps  which  had  been  moved  the  night  before  to  a 
position  on  their  flank,  attacked  and  drove  the 
enemy  from  their  vidette  line,  their  skirmish  line 
and  two  main  lines  of  works,  and  held  them,  cap- 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE     183 

turing  some  twelve  hundred  prisoners,  eight  guns, 
and  thirteen  stands  of  colors.  Gen.  Wheeler 
with  his  cavalry  drove  a  brigade  of  infantry  from 
their  works  and  through  Decatur  which  is  seven 
miles  from  town  on  the  Augusta  R.  R.,  capturing 
some  two  or  three  hundred  prisoners  and  one 
gun.  A  portion  of  Cheatham's  corps,  (Gen. 
Hood's  old  corps)  drove  the  enemy  from  the  first 
main  line  of  works  in  their  front,  but  were  forced 
to  retire,  bringing  off  however  three  or  four 
hundred  prisoners,  five  stands  of  colors  and  six 
pieces  of  Artillery. 

"The  fruits  of  the  victory  were  fifteen  guns, 
eighteen  colors  and  between  eighteen  andlf  nineteen 
hundred  prisoners.  There  was  another  fight  on 
the  28th  in  which  three  Divisions  were  engaged. 
They  drove  the  enemy  into  slight  works  which 
they  had  erected,  but  did  not  take  the  works.  The 
attack  was  made  to  prevent  the  enemy's  gaining 
possession  of  a  road.  Major  Preston,  son  of  Gen. 
John  S.  Preston,  was  killed  in  the  fight  of  the  20th 
by  a  cannon  shot.  He  was  universally  regretted. 
Gen.  Stevens  of  South  Carolina  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  same  fight  and  has  since  died. 
On  the  22nd,  Gen.  W.  H.  T.  Walker  was  killed  and 
Gen.  Gist  and  Gen.  Smith,  commanding  Gran- 
bury' s  Texas  brigade,  wounded.  On  the  28th 
Gen.  Stewart,  Gen.  Loring,  and  Gen.  Johnson,  who 
received  his  appointment  as  Brig.  Gen.  on  the 
march  to  the  fight,  were  wounded.     Gen.  Ector 


1 84  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

was  wounded  during  an  artillery  duel — and  has 
lost  his  leg.  Col.  Young,  whom  you  remember 
to  have  seen  at  Charlottesville,  is  now  commanding 
the  brigade.  Gen.  Mackall,  Gen.  Johnston's  Chief 
of  Staff,  has  been  relieved  at  his  own  request,  and 
Genl.  Shoep,  formerly  Chief  of  Artillery  of  the 
Army,  is  now  Gen.  Hood's  Chief  of  Staff.  Col. 
Beckham  is  Chief  of  Artillery  of  the  Army  and  will 
I  suppose  be  made  Brigadier.  I  am  messing 
at  present  with  Gen.  Hood,  am  living  in  a  house, 
and  have  a  room  all  to  myself.  I  write  very 
frequently  to  L.,  generally  every  two  or  three 
days.  The  last  letter  I  received  was  dated  the 
24th.  Mrs.  Johnston  had  obtained  a  large  house 
in  a  very  pleasant  part  of  the  town  and  would  move 
into  it  in  a  few  days.  L.  and  F.  will  be  with  her 
there  and  L.  says  she  thinks  she  will  spend  a  very 
pleasant  summer  comparatively  '  when  these  awful 
battles  are  over.' 

"  Genl.  Stephen  D.  Lee  has  taken  command  of 
Gen.  Hood's  old  corps.  He  told  me  he  had  heard 
you  were  on  your  way  across  the  river  and  I  sup- 
pose by  this  time  you  are  safely  in  Louisiana. 
The  Yankee  cavalry  has  been  very  actively  at 
work  on  the  railroads  in  Georgia  and  Alabama 
for  the  last  week  or  two.  A  force  which  had  cut 
the  road  between  here  and  Macon,  only  tearing 
up  a  mile  and  a  half,  were  pursued  by  our  Cavalry 
and  when  they  reached  the  West  Point  R.  R.  came 
upon  some  of  Roddy's  forces  on  the  cars,  were 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE     185 

held  in  check  until  some  of  the  pursuers  came  up, 
and  from  all  accounts  it  seems  that  the  only  ones 
of  them  who  will  get  back  to  their  lines  will  be 
the  fugitives  who  can  make  their  way  through 
the  woods.     Remember  me  to  all  the  servants." 

As  recorded  in  the  preceding  letter,  General 
Johnston,  immediately  on  his  removal,  left  for 
Macon  with  Mrs.  Johnston  and  his  staff.  The 
feeling  of  indignation  at  his  removal  was  generally 
expressed  and  the  people  did  all  in  their  power  to 
show  their  sympathy  and  respect.  He  bore  his 
trouble  with  an  outward  stoicism  which  was 
pathetic,  since  we,  who  knew  and  loved  him,  were 
so  fully  aware  of  the  agony  of  mind  and  heart  he 
suffered.  But  no  word  escaped  his  lips,  whatever 
his  thoughts  may  have  been.  I  shall  never  forget 
a  scene  which  occurred  at  the  church  door  on 
General  Johnston's  first  appearance  at  service 
after  his  removal.  Mrs.  Clement  Clay,  wife  of  the 
former  United  States  Senator  from  Alabama,  had, 
with  her  husband,  the  warmest  admiration  and 
affectionate  friendship  for  General  Johnston.  She 
was  as  impulsive  and  demonstrative,  as  he  was 
shy  and  reserved.  Her  feelings  of  indignation 
at  his  removal  were  at  a  white  heat.  She  not  only 
felt  incensed,  but  she  wanted  everyone  to  know 
that  fact  and  the  depth  of  her  sympathy.  They 
had  not  met  since  his  arrival  in  Macon,  and, 
catching  sight  of  the  old  hero,  as  with  reverent 


186  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

mien  and  modest  air  he  moved  with  the  crowd 
through  the  church  door,  she  rushed  up  to  him 
with  hands  outstretched,  and  rising  on  tip  toe 
imprinted  on  his  bronzed  cheek  a  warm  kiss  of 
love  and  sympathy,  in  the  face  of  the  whole  con- 
gregation. The  effect  was  magical.  A  low  mur- 
mur went  around  among  the  people,  tears  sprung 
into  many  eyes,  as  they  saw  the  blush  mount  to  his 
brow  at  this  spontaneous  tribute  to  the  love  which 
we  bore  him.  Mrs.  Clay  had  only  expressed  our 
feelings,  and,  surrounded  by  a  half  laughing, 
half  tearful  crowd,  the  old  General  made  his  way 
down  the  church  steps  and  hurried  homewards. 

We  were  delightfully  fixed  in  a  large  roomy 
house,  of  the  architecture  and  style  so  often 
seen  in  the  extreme  South — three  stories  high, 
with  tall  pillars  reaching  from  the  roof  to  the 
piazza,  thus  affording  shade  to  the  whole  structure 
without  preventing  the  passage  of  air.  The  house 
was  on  the  outskirts  of  Macon  and  faced  a  beauti- 
ful valley — beyond  which  rose  a  range  of  hills. 
From  this  broad  piazza  I  saw  the  only  battle  I 
witnessed  during  the  War.  Stoneman,  with  three 
brigades,  attempted  to  take  Macon,  but  he  was 
met  by  the  Militia,  which  was  composed  mostly 
of  men  unfit  for  active  service,  and  of  the  con- 
valescent soldiers,  and  was  kept  away  from  the 
town.  When  he  attempted  to  retreat  he  was 
met  by  our  cavalry,  and  surrendered  himself  with 
five  hundred  of  his  command.     Our  people  pursued 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE     187 

the  remainder,  capturing  many  more  and  all  the 
artillery.  From  "  our  coign  of  vantage "  on  the 
piazza,  we  could  see  the  smoke  issuing  from  the 
guns  and  then  after  an  interval  hear  the  report, 
though  we  were  too  far  off  to  see  much  of  the  fight. 

At  this  time  we  received  information  that  my 
father  and  mother  had  crossed  the  river  in  safety ; 
but  the  details  of  that  perilous  trip  were  not  told 
till  their  return  in  December. 

All  during  that  anxious  summer  we  hoped  and 
feared,  as  the  news  would  be  brought  us  now  of 
victory,  and  now  of  defeat,  while  our  gallant  Gen- 
eral, chafing  in  his  enforced  inactivity,  spoke 
never  a  word  of  approval  or  disapproval  of  the 
conduct  of  the  campaign. 

I  find  in  a  letter,  written  by  myself  to  my 
mother,  the  following: 

"Macon,  Sept.  4th,  1864. 
" .     .     .     I  have  no  news  to  give  you  and  must 
confess  that  things   just   at  present  look  rather 
blue.      TTip~JTTtfi11i"gfTirp-  35al  pomps  from  t.V|P_fmnt 

if^.p1l— ccmfasad  We  know  that  Hardee  attacked 
the  enemy  and  with  his  one  corps  held  his  position 
till  night,  when  he  was  flanked  and  driven  back 
four  miles.  .  .  .  Hood,  with  the  rest  of  the 
army,  is  in  Atlanta ;  the  army  thus  being  cut  right 
in  two.  Reports  came  yesterday  and  to-day  that 
Atlanta  has  been  evacuated.  I  have  heard  noth- 
ing from  Brother,  but  suppose  from  that  fact  that 


188  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

he  is  all  well.  Every  face  looks  anxiously  expect- 
ant and  we  can  only  hope  for  the  best.  Before 
this  reaches  you  it  will  be  decided,  I  suppose. 

"  Genl.  Johnston  received  a  very  flattering  letter 
from  the  citizens  of  Macon  not  long  ago,  offering 
him  the  house,  in  which  we  now  are,  for  as  long 
a  period  as  he  desires  it.  The  old  General  was 
very  much  gratified  at  the  compliment,  but  of 
course  signified  his  refusal." 

My  brother,  who  was  on  General  Hood's  staff, 
writes  to  my  father  after  the  evacuation  of 
Atlanta,  giving  an  account  of  the  affair : 

"  Camp  near  Lovejoy's  Station, 

"Sept.  14,  1864. 
"When  my  last  was  written  Sherman  had  not 
developed  his  intentions,  and  we  were  all  in  the 
dark  as  to  what  he  would  do  next.  After  drawing 
back  his  line  from  our  right  and  centre,  he  pushed 
these  troops  round  in  rear  of  his  original  right 
and  crossing  the  West  Point  and  Atlanta  R.  R. 
struck  for  the  Macon  road.  On  the  night  of  the 
30th  Aug.,  Hardee's  Corps  started  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  East  Point,  six  miles  below  Atlanta, 
for  Jonesboro',  sixteen  miles  further  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Macon — opposite  which  was  McPherson's 
Army.  You  know  Sherman's  Army  is  composed 
of  McPherson's  old  Army,  commanded  since  his 
death  by  Howard;  Thomas's  Army  and  Schofield's 


LINES  FROM  THE  LOSING  SIDE     189 

Army.  Lee's  Corps  followed  Hardee  and  next 
day  they  attacked  this  fraction  of  the  Yankee 
force,  but  failed  to  make  any  impression.  There 
was  therefore  nothing  left  but  to  evacuate  the 
place,  which  was  done  that  next  night.  Lee's 
Corps  was  drawn  away  from  Hardee  after  the 
fight  and  covered  the  flank  of  the  troops  march- 
ing from  Atlanta  to  effect  a  junction  with  Hardee. 
Gen.  Hood  is  making  every  exertion  to 
get  ready  for  the  fall  campaign  and  preserves  his 
equanimity  perfectly. 

"  A  few  days  after  the  army  was  reunited,  Sher- 
man retired  his  forces  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Atlanta  and  the  campaign  came  to  an  end.  He 
is  doubtless  preparing  for  another  advance  before 
the  stoppage  of  operations  by  bad  weather.  He 
stripped  the  citizens  of  the  country  that  he  has 
abandoned  to  us,  and  yesterday  there  was  appli- 
cation made  at  Jonesboro'  for  rations  for  one 
thousand  destitute  people  in  that  vicinity.  He 
has  signalized  his  retirement  to  Atlanta  by  an 
order  exiling  every  white  man,  woman  and  child 
from  the  place,  regardless  of  political  opinion. 
The  reason  given  is  that  it  is  to  the  interest  of  the 
United  States. 

"  I  feel  confident  that  the  first  of  December  will 
see  Sherman  North  of  the  Etowah  River.  His 
line  of  communication  is  too  long,  his  means  of 
transportation  consisting  as  it  does  of  a  railroad. 
You  must  be  sure  and  come  up  to  the  Army  as  you 


igo  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

pass  on  your  way  to  Richmond.  I  have  a  great 
deal  to  say  that  I  do  not  like  to  entrust  to  a  letter. 
"  Genl.  Patton  Anderson  was  severely  wounded 
on  the  31st,  as  was  Genl.  Cumming,  of  Georgia, 
and  Gen.  Finly,  of  Florida.  I  suppose  you  will 
have  heard  of  Governor  Lubbock's  appointment  as 
Aide  to  the  President.  He  was  in  Atlanta  just 
before  the  evacuation,  accompanied  by  Tom 
Ochiltree.  Genl.  G.  W.  Smith's  Georgia  Militia 
have  been  furloughed  for  thirty  days  to  give  them 
an  opportunity  to  gather  their  crops"  ( ! ) 


JAMES  L.  PETTIGRU 
A  distinguished  jurist  of  Charleston,  S.  C. 


HOME  LIFE  OF  A  SOUTHERN 
GENERAL 


CHAPTER  XI 

Home  Life  of  a  Southern  General 

THE  MISSES  WIGFALL  IN  CHARGE  OF  MRS.  JOSEPH  E.  JOHNSTON 

A     CHEERFUL    HOUSEHOLD MRS.     TOBY'S     "  PARTY  " 

THE    APPROACH    OF    GENERAL    SHERMAN    CAUSES    A    RUSH 

FROM      MACON A      LOUISIANA      SWAMP CROSSING      THE 

MISSISSIPPI    IN    DUGOUTS. 

When  October  came  General  Johnston  gave  up 
the  house  which  had  sheltered  us  during  the  past 
anxious  months,  as  it  was  not  deemed  prudent,  in 
the  present  state  of  uncertainty,  to  attempt  any 
settled  plans.  There  was  no  telling  how  soon,  now, 
we  might  be  obliged  to  evacuate  Macon.  Genl. 
Johnston's  opinion  was,  that  after  the  con- 
clusion of  the  sort  of  armistice  then  existing,  that 
active  operations  would  begin  again  immediately. 
Sherman,  taking  advantage  of  the  short  respite, 
had  already  laid  in  immense  supplies  in  Atlanta 
and  said  openly  that  he  could  march  to  Augusta, 
Mobile  or  Macon.  We  therefore,  in  view  of  these 
uncertainties,  broke  up  our  household  and  went  to 
Vineville,  a  suburb  of  Macon,  where  we  joined 
forces  with  the  family  of  General  Mackall,  General 
Johnston's  Chief  of  Staff,  and  messed  together 
in  a  snug  little  house  at  the  end  of  the  village 

193 


i94  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

street.  Here  we  formed  a  cheerful  household 
with  the  young  people  of  the  family,  and  the  young 
officers  on  the  staff.  Little  did  we  care  that  the 
mid-day  meal  consisted  of  one  course  of  corn 
bread  and  sorghum  molasses.  We  kept  brave 
f aces_axui^rjoke  r^ave^wordsjbo  cheer  each  other, 
thoughj&er^-w^&^  tugging  at  our 

heart  Strings  jjay_p.nH  night  fornrfrrrftl^^ 
in_the  field,  and  deadly  fears_jor  ..flip,  lover!  ones 
exposed  to  hourly  danger.  In  spite  of  all  this, 
orVitmay  be,  "because7>T3T this  trouble  and  sorrow, 
on  the  principle  of  whistling  to  keep  one's  courage 
up,  there  were  many  homes,  in  other  days  famed 
for  their  generous  hospitality,  which  still  in  this 
fair  Georgian  town  opened  their  doors  and  called 
the  young  people  aside  to  make  merry,  if  possible, 
for  even  a  few  hours — and  many  a  pleasant  even- 
ing we  spent  with  music  and  song  and  dancing. 
The  young  officers  passing  to  and  fro  on  sick  leave, 
or  during  periods  of  cessation  of  hostilities,  having 
a  two  or  three  days'  furlough,  would  find  delight 
in.  thpsq_1ifrtift  glimpses  of  a  brighter  side  of  life. 
There  was  in  Macon,  at  this  time,  a  Mrs.  Toby, 
a  charming  matron,  who  was  noted  for  her  love  of 
young  people,  and  her  delight  was  to  have  informal 
gatherings  upon  every  available  occasion.  There 
was  also  in  our  household  a  young  officer  of  the 
staff  who  was  of  a  serious  turn  of  mind,  cared 
little  for  the  society  of  the  more  frivolous  sex 
and  who  consequently  was  a  continual  target  for 


A  SOUTHERN  GENERAL  195 

the  mischievous  pranks  of  the  young  ladies,  who 
teased  him  unmercifully.  Practical  jokes  were 
played  upon  him,  which  he  bore  with  an  equanim- 
ity and  amiability  unexampled,  and  hard  to  com- 
prehend, until  the  sequel  showed  that  he  was 
only  biding  his  time  for  a  goodly  revenge. 

This  came,  after  a  consultation  with  Mrs.  John- 
ston, who  was  full  of  life  and  vivacity  and  ever 
ready  to  further  the  gaiety  of  young  people,  and 
who  suggested,  that  in  the  well  known  hospitality 
of  Mrs.  Toby,  he  might  find  the  long  sought  oppor- 
tunity for  vengeance. 

The  plot,  as  concocted,  was  that  the  young 
ladies  of  the  house  were  to  be  invited  to  a  "  party  " 
at  Mrs.  Toby's,  that  lady's  name  being  used  for 
an  entertainment  which  had  existence  only  in  the 
imagination  of  the  conspirators,  and  which,  of 
course,  was  never  to  take  place.  The  following 
letters  were  composed  and  written  by  Mrs.  John- 
ston and  the  young  officer  and  delivered  at  inter- 
vals— as  required  by  the  situation.  In  reading 
over  these  foolish  little  letters,  which  caused  such 
merriment  at  the  time,  I  have  thought  what  a 
pathetic  picture  was  presented — of  that  brave  old 
General,  with  heart  bowed  down  with  sorrow  for 
his  country's  peril,  and  bitterness  at  his  own 
enforced  inability  to  help  her  in  her  hour  of  need, 
forgetting  for  the  moment  the  tragedy  of  the  times, 
to  indulge  in  the  innocent  mirth  produced  by  a 
practical  joke.     The  first  letter  was  as  follows: 


196  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Mackall: 

"We  understand  a  large  party  has  made  pre- 
paration to  storm  us  this  evening.  Mr.  Toby  is 
eager  for  the  amusement  and  kindly  consents  to 
overcome  his  aversion  to  such  'villainous  sur- 
prises,' (as  Sherman  would  say)  and  receive  the 
company.  Please  make  my  regards  to  the  young 
ladies  and  ask  them  to  join  us- — and  fetch  any 
agreeable  beaux  they  can  find.  All  the  gentlemen 
of  your  house  are  expected.  I  hope  Mrs.  Johnston 
and  yourself  will  come  as  lookers  on.  We  are  such 
near  neighbors  that  you  should  not  regard  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather.  Some  warm  gumbo 
will  cheer  the  inner  man  and  gum  shoes  and  thick 
mantles  protect  you  from  the  storm.  Don't  dis- 
appoint us. 

"  Very  truly, 

"  Nov.  2nd,  Wednesday.  A.  V.  Toby." 

The  reception  of  this  invitation,  which  was 
delivered  in  all  seriousness  and  without  our  having 
a  suspicion  of  the  wicked  intention  veiled  in  its 
smooth  phrases,  created  a  nutter  of  excitement 
among  the  girls  in  the  household.  Acceptance  of 
the  offered  delight  was  a  foregone  conclusion,  but 
the  burning  question  of  apparel  loomed  up  in  the 
foreground.  What  could  we  wear?  We  retired 
to  the  upper  regions  and  called  Mrs.  Johnston  to 
our  council.  We  rummaged  among  our  meagre 
resources,   and  spread  out  for  critical  inspection 


A  SOUTHERN  GENERAL  197 

the  results  of  our  search.  I  selected  an  old 
crimson  silk  which  had  done  faithful  service  in  the 
past  on  many  a  festive  occasion,  and  a  faded 
lavender  gown,  with  an  ancient  cut,  and  skimped 
proportions,  was  the  choice  of  the  other  eager 
young  aspirant  for  pleasure.  An  old  sycamore 
tree  grew  in  the  yard  and  its  boughs  were  heavy 
with  lovely  green  balls,  which  suggested  them- 
selves to  my  excited  fancy  as  a  beautiful  decor- 
ation for  the  hair.  This  latter,  by  the  way,  had 
to  be  crimped  and  curled — so  we  remained  up 
stairs  all  day,  close  prisoners,  ripping  and  re- 
making the  old  dresses;  and  refused  even  to  come 
down  to  the  corn  bread  and  sorghum  repast, 
owing  to  the  crimped  and  frizzed  condition  of  oiir 
tresses.  Mrs.  Johnston  would  appear  at  intervals 
with  suggestions  and  advice  and  on  returning  to 
the  lower  regions,  if  our  ears  had  been  attuned  to 
suspicion,  we  might  have  wondered  at  the  sounds 
of  laughter  and  merriment  that  invariably  greeted 
her  return.  As  night  approached  and  we  began  to 
make  our  toilettes — the  conspirators  relented.  We 
heard  afterwards  that  the  dear  old  General  remon- 
strated and  said  "  it  was  a  shame "  to  impose 
further  on  our  innocence  and  credulity.  So  Mrs. 
Johnston  appeared  up  stairs  with  the  second  note 
— and  still  we  never  suspected. 

"  Dear  Mrs.  Mackall: 

"The    young    gentlemen    are    more    particular 


198  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  >6i 

about  the  weather  than  I  am — and  having  notified 
me  that  I  was  not  to  be  '  surprised '  tonight  have 
greatly  disappointed  me.  If  the  young  ladies 
partake  of  my  annoyance,  I  hope  they  will  also 
partake  of  the  pleasure  I  anticipate  of  seeing 
them  some  early  evening  under  more  auspicious 
circumstances.  I  would  even  now  beg  your 
family  and  friends  to  come,  but  am  afraid  the 
gumbo  would  be  a  poor  inducement. 
"Truly  yours, 

"A.V.Toby." 

Upon  the  receipt  of  this  artful  epistle,  we  sighed 
our  disappointment,  donned  our  sober  garments 
and  went  down  stairs,  where  we  were  greeted  by 
the  conspirators  with  many  expressions  of  regret. 
The  next  morning  at  the  breakfast  table — the 
third  and  last  note  was  handed  in  by  the  grinning 
darkey,  who  knew  some  joke  was  being  perpe- 
trated. I  can  see  now  the  old  General's  grim 
visage  relaxing  into  a  smile,  as  with  shouts  of 
laughter  the  note  was  passed  round  the  table 
and  read  by  each  in  turn. 

"Vineville,  Nov.  4,  '64. 
"  My  dear  Mrs.  Mackall: 

"  My  maid  Amanda,  on  a  visit  yesterday  to  your 
servants,  learned  that  preparations  were  being 
made  by  the  young  ladies  for  a  large  party  to  be 
given,  as  she  was  informed,  by  me.     Imagine  my 


A  SOUTHERN  GENERAL  199 

amazement,  when  I  tell  you  that  though  always 
glad  to  do  anything  for  the  enjoyment  of  young 
people,  I  was  wholly  innocent  of  any  such  purpose 
on  this  occasion.  I  fear  they  have  been  made 
victims  of  one  of  those  silly,  stupid,  practical 
jokes,  in  which  I  never  could  see  any  amusement! 
I  do  not  envy  the  person  whoever  he  be,  who  can 
enjoy  the  disappointment  of  two  such  charming 
creatures  as  the  '  Fair  Rose  of  Texas '  and  '  the 
Nymph  of  the  Alabama'  in  the  realization  of 
fancied  triumphs  of  dazzling  glances,  and  bewitch- 
ing smiles,  dreams  of  delicious  tete-a-tetes,  divine 
galops  and  ecstatic  waltzes — ambrosial  gumbo.  (?) 
They  have  my  heartfelt  sympathy.  Amanda  tells 
me  too,  that  all  day  long  they  were  pent  up,  up 
stairs,  patient  martyrs  to  'crimps,'  (Mr.  Toby 
can't  bear  me  in  'crimps' — says  I  look  like  the 
head  of  Medusa— horrid  man!) — that  the  entire 
toilette  was  arranged.  Just  think  of  the  crimson 
silk  and  the  sycamore  balls — the  killing  lavender ! 
"  I  cannot  close  without  expressing  my  contempt 
for  the  person  who  so  cruelly  and  maliciously 
amused  himself  at  their  expense.  It  can  be  no 
other  than  a  young  man,  one  of  those  unappre- 
ciative,  indifferent,  ungallant,  'frisky'  creatures 
of  these  degenerate  days.  I  am  sure  that  that 
highly  chivalrous  gentleman,  Capt.  Mackall,  will 
become  perfectly  furious  at  this  disclosure  of  the 
plot,  and  will  not  be  pacified,  swearing  vengeance 
on  the  author!     Woe  be  to  him!  if  caught.     I  am 


2oo  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

too  angry  to  write  more.  The  sad  thought  of 
'  how  it  might  have  been ! ' 

"  Yours  truly, 

"Toby?  or  not  Toby? 
"P.  S.  That  is  the  question. 

"Tell  the  young  ladies  to  be  sure  and  bring 
Capt.  Mackall  to  see  me.     I  hear  he  is  '  coming  out.' 

"T.  B." 

It  is  needless  to  add  that  Mrs.  Toby  was  guiltless 
of  any  and  all  of  these  effusions  but  Mrs.  Johnston 
and  Captain  Mackall  could  not  claim  equal 
ignorance  of  their  composition. 

This  little  laughing  interlude  was  of  short  dura- 
tion, for  graver  matters  soon  absorbed  our  atten- 
tion.    Sherman  _ was  threatening  Macon^and  we 

wptp  mpVrncr  rpa£JyJ-.n  Ipavp  on  his  npqrpr  apprna<"h 

The  small-pox  was  becoming  also  a  serious  menace 
and  knowing  the  crowde3^o^ditiDn_Qf_the  little 
town  andltEc-lnsiimp^^ 

ing  its  sanitary  conditions^we  were  very  uneasy. 
Vaccination  was  universal  and  we  wore  little  bags 
of  asafetida  next  the  skin  to  ward  off  the  in- 
fection. I  don't  remember  whether  this  was  Mrs. 
Johnston's  own  idea  of  an  efficient  preventive,  or 
not,  but  I  know  all  the  young  people  in  our  house- 
hold were  similarly  decorated. 

At  last  the  dreaded  day  came  when  we  were 
forced  to  fly  for  safety.  The  rush  for  the  cars  was 
tremendous.     Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Cuyler, 


A  SOUTHERN  GENERAL  201 

the  President  of  the  road,  a  car  was  reserved  for 
a  number  of  his  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  we 
were  lucky  enough  to  secure  two  seats  and  one 
for  Captain  Miller,  who  was  sent  in  charge  of  us. 
Mrs.  Johnston  remained  behind,  to  leave  next 
day  with  the  General.  I  shall  never  forget  that 
journey.  I  was  ill  with  fever  and  headache  from 
my  arm,  which  had  "taken"  violently  from  vac- 
cination. I  was  separated  from  father  and  mother ; 
my  only  brother  exposed  to  hourly  danger,  news 
of  his  safety  from  day  to  day  being  impossible  to 
obtain ;  with  the  care  and  responsibility  of  a  young 
sister  upon  me  and  flying  before  a  ruthless  foe  to 
take  refuge  among  strangers.  And  I  not  eighteen 
years  old  at  the  time!  As  our  poorly  equipped 
train  lumbered  slowly  along,  cumbered  with  its 
heavy  load,  we  had  time  enough  for  reflection  on 
the  terrible  situation  of  affairs.  Our  objective 
point  was  Columbia,,  that  fair  little  Carolina  town, 
whTch  had  not  yet  fallen  into  the  enemy's  hands, 
and  was  still  a  haven  for  the  distressed  refugees 
flying  before  Sherman's  advancing  army.  At 
night-fall  we  reached  a  way  station,  and  there 
came  to  a  halt.  A  raid  was  threatened  and  trains 
were  unable  to  pass  beyond  that  point.  The 
terrified  women  and  children  were  flocking  into 
the  little  village,  and  the  only  inn,  a  small  frame 
building,  could  not  even  give  cover  to  the  crowds 
that  swarmed  in  from  every  quarter.  We  alighted 
from  the  train  and  made  an  investigation  of  the 


202  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

prospects  for  a  night's  lodging.  We  could  not 
even  find  a  seat  in  the  small  sitting  room  filled  to 
overflowing  with  women,  children  and  babies ;  and 
the  stifling  atmosphere  caused  us  to  beat  a  swift 
retreat.  What  to  do  we  did  not  know,  or  where 
to  find  shelter.  Captain  Miller  was  at  his  wits' 
ends — when  the  question  was  promptly  settled 
by  our  determining  to  spend  the  night  on  the 
platform.  A  chair  was  found,  and  seated  on  the 
bare  boards,  with  my  head  on  my  muff,  with  the 
chair  for  a  support  and  with  my  little  sister  lying 
on  my  lap,  we  spent  the  night.  I  was  so  exhausted 
from  illness  and  fatigue  that  I  was  soon  lost  to  a 
sense  of  all  the  trouble  and  terror,  and  slept  the 
hours  away  in  utter  unconsciousness. 

In  the  early  morning  we  were  aroused  and, 
hurrying  on  board  the  train,  proceeded  on  our 
way  to  Columbia,  and  thence  to  Greenville1_where 
kind  friends  received  us.  Here  we  remained  in 
quiet  for  some  weeks,  when  one  happy  day,  to 
our  utter  delight,  my  father  made  his  appearance, 
having  successfully  accomplished  the  journey  to 
Texas  and  recrossed  the  Mississippi  river.  He 
had  now  come  for  us  to  join  him  and  my  mother 
on  their  way  back  to  Richmond.  In  life,  there 
are  always  hours  that  stand  out  in  bold  relief 
against  the  negative  tints  of  daily  events.  The 
joy  of  that  meeting  is  as  fresh  to-day  as  if  it  were 
yesterday,  and  the  rapturous  delight  of  being  safe 
once  more  in  the  haven  of  father  and  mother  love 


A  SOUTHERN  GENERAL  203 

as  vivid  as  the  pain  and  sorrow  of  the  separation. 
And  now  we  heard  the  story  of  the  journey.  How 
they  had  traveled  through  the  Louisiana  swamps, 
with  the  mosquitoes  as  big  as  "woodchucks" 
almost,  (" gallinippers "  they  were  styled),  swarm- 
ing around  them,  the  mules  struggling  bravely  with 
the  heavily  laden  ambulance  over  the  corduroy 
roads,  my  father  on  the  alert  day  and  night,  fearing 
the  approach  of  the  enemy. 

I  give  the  following  notes  to  show  the  surround- 
ing circumstances : 

"  In  the  Swamp,  Sunday  Morning. 
"Dear  Genl.: 

"  I  start  on  this  morning  to  discover  whether 
the  enemy  are  still  on  the  river  or  near  to  Shields, 
obstructing  the  upper  road.  I  advise  you  to 
return  to  Miller's  and  will  despatch  you  there 
the  condition  of  affairs. 

"  The  road  over  which  I  am  passing  can  not  be 
passed  by  any  wheel  conveyance.  I  deem  it  my 
duty  to  inform  you  of  this  fact.  Were  there  a 
chance  for  you  I  should  say  come,  but  as  it  is  I 
must  say  the  route  is  impracticable.  Should  the 
upper  route  be  free  of  the  enemy's  presence,  it 
remains  for  you  to  determine  whether  you  will 
run  the  risk  attendant  on  it.  I  believe  from  all 
that  I  have  heard,  after  the  most  diligent  in- 
quiries, that  should  the  enemy  have  gone,  you  can 
pass  in  safety  to  the  river — of  course,  there  may 


2o4  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

be  enemies  there  at  any  time,  but  such  risks 
fade  into  utter  insignificance  compared  with  this 
road.  You  have  to  pass  down  the  river  eight 
miles,  but  under  cover  of  night  I  scarcely  think 
there  can  be  much  danger.  Should  I  find  the 
enemy  still  on  the  river  I  will  advise  you  imme- 
diately of  it.  I  would  suggest  that  as  the  only 
practicable  means  of  solving  the  difficult  problem 
of  reaching  the  East  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  that 
you  recross  the  Black  River  and  proceed  to 
Trinity,  getting  from  Col.  Purvis,  who  commands  a 
regiment  now  stationed  there,  an  escort  who  know 
the  roads  and  country,  being  residents  of  that  part 
of  the  state,  and  proceed  to  Columbia,  crossing 
the  Ouachita  River  at  that  point  and  proceeding 
via  Bayou  Macon  and  St.  Joseph  road  to  St. 
Joseph  or  Boninsburg.  It  is  with  sincere  regret 
that  I  should  find  such  a  course  the  only  one  pos- 
sible for  you,  but  the  difficulties  on  this  route, 
naturally  much  greater  than  I  had  supposed,  have 
been  greatly  augmented  by  the  recent  rains. 

"The  nearest  route  for  you  to  St.  Joseph  or 
Boninsburg  would  be  to  cross  the  Ouachita  at 
Harrisonburg,  but  as  the  Bayou  Louis,  three  miles 
from  Harrisonburg,  may  not  be  crossable,  I  give 
you  the  other  route.  Col.  Purvis  can  inform 
you  whether  you  can  cross  Bayou  Louis,  and  if 
you  can  would  take  that  road. 

"I  do  not  know  whether  I  can  cross  the  river 
at  the  point  near  to  which  I  shall  debouch  from 


A  SOUTHERN  GENERAL  205 

this  road  or  not.  If  you  think  it  necessary  for  me 
to  go  with  you  to  Boninsburg  I  will  go,  although  I 
do  not  know  the  road  and  it  will  delay  me  very 
much.  I  deem  it  my  duty,  however,  to  assist  you 
to  the  last  extremity. 

"Very  respectfully, 

"H.  F.  Douglas, 
"Lt.  Co.  Eng." 

"  In  the  Swamp,  Sunday  Morning. 
"  Dear  Genl.: 

"  Should  you  conclude  from  information  from 
Col.  Douglas  that  it  is  best  for  you  to  risk  going 
out  the  upper  road  and  thence  down  the  bank  of 
the  Mississippi  river,  you  will  order  the  Sergeant 
and  the  man  he  has  with  him  to  accompany  you 
to  the  Bayou — where,  if  there  is  no  enemy,  we 
will  meet  you.  Should  you  decide  not  to  come 
that  route  and  determine  to  proceed  to  St.  Joseph's, 
you  can  take  him  with  you  to  Mrs.  Liddell's, 
which  is  within  a  mile  of  Trinity,  and  send  him  to 
Col.  Purvis,  commanding  at  that  point — sending 
this  note,  by  which  Col.  Purvis  is  to  understand 
that  it  is  Genl.  Buckner's  order  that  he  send  an 
officer  with  an  escort  of  ten  men  with  you  to  St. 
Joseph's,  who  know  the  country  well.  In  which 
event  you  will  please  order  the  Sergeant  to  return 
to  Alexandria.  I  will  only  add  that  I  fully  concur 
with  Col.  Douglas  that  it  is  an  utter  impossibility 
for  any  vehicle  to  come  the  route  we  are  now 


2o6  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

travelling  and  I  should  not  be  at  all  surprised  if 
some  of  our  animals  found  it  to  be  their  last  jour- 
ney. With  great  respect,  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient 
servant, 

"H.  T.  Foot,  Jr., 

"  A.  A.  Gen. 
"P.  S. — The  suggestions  which  I  have  made  are 
intended  for  your   information  in  case   accident 
should  befall  me. " 

When,  after  many  vicissitudes  and  tribulations, 
the  bank  of  the  river  was  reached  without  en- 
countering the  enemy  the  most  difficult  part  of 
the  journey  was  still  to  be  made.  When  the 
width  of  the  river  is  remembered,  that  the  enemy's 
gun  boats  were  lying  in  plain  sight,  ready  to  send 
a  shot  in  any  direction  that  suited  their  errant 
fancy,  the  situation  may  be  imagined,  and  when 
to  this  is  added  a  description  of  the  mode  of  con- 
veyance proposed  and  successfully  put  in  use,  the 
account  seems  almost  incredible.  Two  long  "  dug- 
outs"— i.  e.,  trunks  of  trees  hollowed  out  in  the 
centre,  were  procured.  The  ambulance  was  then 
driven  into  the  water  and  the  "dugouts"  placed 
beneath  the  wheels,  and  the  mules  swimming  bore 
the  ambulance  across  the  river.  In  the  night 
the  passage  was  made;  and  lying  clearly  defined 
up  and  down  the  broad  waters  were  the  Yankee 
gunboats,  their  grim  shapes  looming  like  the 
awful  monsters  they  were,   with  power  to  hurl 


A  SOUTHERN  GENERAL  207 

death  and  destruction  in  an  instant,  should  even 
a  suspicion  arise  of  the  daring  travelers  on  their 
way  over  the  Father  of  Waters  in  that  frail  craft. 
And  when  I  remember  who  was  seated  there,  so 
calm  and  composed — in  all  that  danger  and  ter- 
rible risk — my  gentle  mother,  the  most  feminine 
of  women,  I  am  lost  in  admiration  of  her  amazing 
courage.  In  telling  of  it  all  her  comment  was: 
"And  the  mules  would  snort;  and  made  such  a 
dreadful  noise  that  we  expected  every  moment 
the  gunboats  would  hear  and  send  a  shot  across 
our  bows! "  But  they  reached  the  shore  in  safety 
and  we  were  now  on  our  way  to  Richmond  for  the 
fateful  winter  of  1864. 


A  LETTER  FROM  THE  FRONT 


CHAPTER  XII 
A  Letter  from  the  Front 

CAPTAIN    WIGFALL   WRITES    FROM    NEAR   NASHVILLE,    DECEM- 
BER   5,    1864 — THE    FIGHT    AT    FRANKLIN MARCHING    TO 

TENNESSEE  —  RETURN     TO     RICHMOND A     SORROWING 

MOTHER. 

The  following  letter  written  from  near  Nashville 
by  my  brother,  is  given  here : 

"  At  Mrs.  Overton's, 
"  Six  Miles  from  Nashville, 
"  On  Columbia  Turnpike, 
"Dec.  5th,  1864. 

"  I  wrote  you  a  short  note  from  the  other  side 
of  Franklin  the  morning  after  the  battle.  I  have 
not  written  oftener  because  I  have  been  unwilling 
to  trust  letters  to  the  mail,  as  I  suppose  communi- 
cation has  been  interrupted  between  Macon  and 
Augusta.  We  left  Florence,  Alabama,  on  the 
21st  of  November;  we  reached  Columbia  and  after 
remaining  in  front  of  the  place  two  or  three  days 
it  was  evacuated  by  the  enemy  who  then  took 
position  on  the  north  bank  of  Duck  River,  imme- 
diately   opposite    the    town.     There    was    some 

211 


2i2  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

artillery  firing  and  sharp  shooting  across  the  river 
and  it  was  in  this  on  the  28th  that  Col.  Beckham 
was  wounded.  I  have  not  heard  from  him  since 
the  morning  of  the  1st,  when  he  was  doing  well, 
but  the  wound  is  so  severe  (the  skull  fractured) 
that  I  fear  he  will  not  recover.  In  fact  the  sur- 
geon said  there  was  a  bare  possibility  of  his  sur- 
viving. His  loss  will  be  very  severely  felt.  It 
is  hard  enough  to  be  killed  at  all,  but  to  be  killed 
in  such  an  insignificant  affair  makes  it  doubly  bad. 

"The  fight  at  Franklin  was  very  severe — while 
it  lasted,  and  though  our  loss  was  heavy,  every- 
body is  in  the  finest  humor — and  ready  for  the 
fight  again  whenever  Gen.  'John  B.'  gives  the 
word.  Col.  Cofer,  Provost  Marshall  Gen.  of  the 
Army,  told  me  the  other  day  that  he  had  taken 
particular  pains  to  find  out  by  enquiring  the 
feelings  of  the  men  and  that  the  morale  of  the  army 
was  very  much  improved  by  the  fight,  and  that 
the  men  would  go  into  the  next  with  double  vim 
and  impetuosity. 

"  Our  men  fought  with  the  utmost  determina- 
tion and  if  we  had  had  three  hours  more  of  day- 
light I  feel  as  confident  as  possible  that  we  should 
have  been  to-day  in  Nashville.  The  Yankees  are 
now  in  their  works  around  the  city  and  our  main 
line  is  at  one  point  only  twelve  hundred  yards 
from  theirs.  We  have  captured  three  engines  and 
about  twenty  cars  and  I  hope  before  long  to  hear 
the   shriek   of   the   locomotive   once   more.     The 


A  LETTER  FROM  THE  FRONT       213 

country  we  have  marched  through  for  the  past 
fifty  miles  is  one  of  the  gardens  of  the  world.  The 
lands  are  very  fertile,  the  plantations  well  im- 
proved and  the  people  before  the  war  were  in  the 
possession  of  every  comfort  and  luxury.  The 
destruction,  too,  caused  by  the  Yankees,  is  not 
to  be  compared  to  that  in  other  sections  occupied 
by  them.  There  has  been  no  part  of  the  Con- 
federacy that  I  have  seen  which  has  been  in  their 
possession  and  has  suffered  so  little. 

"  Our  Army,  in  leaving  Tennessee,  on  both 
occasions  previously,  passed  to  the  East  of  this 
portion  of  the  state,  so  that  an  Army  has  never 
before  marched  over  it.  The  Yankees  too  have 
held  it  a  long  time  and  I  imagine  considered  it 
permanently  in  their  possession.  We  reached 
this  place  on  the  night  of  the  2nd.  There  are 
several  young  ladies  from  Nashville  here  who  are 
very  pretty  and  agreeable  and  the  most  intense 
Southerners.  The  enemy  was  forced  from  his 
position  north  of  Duck  River  by  a  flank  move- 
ment which  placed  the  whole  army  except,  two 
Divisions,  near  his  communications.  He  fell  back 
to  Franklin  that  night  and  the  next  day,  the  30th 
November,  was  the  battle  of  Franklin. 

"  Dec.  8th.  I  have  heard  this  morning  of  poor 
Beckham's  death.  What  a  cruel,  hard  thing  is 
war!  The  individual  suffering,  however,  is  the 
public  gain.  Over  the  road,  on  which  moved 
Cheatham's  Corps,  was  hung,  just  at  the  Tennessee 


2i4  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

State  line,  an  inscription  in  these  words:  ' Tennes- 
see, A  grave,  or  a  free  home.'  A  good  many 
graves  have  been  already  filled — but  better  we 
should  all  meet  that  fate  than  fail  to  gain  the 
prize  we  struggle  for.  As  he  passed  over  the  line, 
Gen.  Hood  received  a  formal  welcome  into  the 
state  from  Governor  Harris,  who  has  been  with 
us  since  we  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Ten- 
nessee. If  we  can  gain  Nashville,  what  a  glorious 
termination  it  will  be  for  the  campaign.  Even 
if  we  fail  in  this,  for  I  fear  the  fortifications  are 
too  strong,  and  hold  the  enemy  in  his  lines  round 
the  city,  it  will  be  one  of  the  grandest  achieve- 
ments an  army  has  ever  performed.  Think  of 
it!  Starting  from  Lovejoy's  thirty  miles  beyond 
Atlanta  on  the  18th  Sept.,  here  we  are  on  the  8th 
Dec.  in  front  of  Nashville  with  the  enemy  cooped 
up  in  his  works  and  the  fruits  of  two  years  hard 
marching  and  fighting  lost  to  him.     .     .     . 

"  Dec.  ii.  There  was  communion  service  held  at 
the  house  this  morning.  Dr.  Quintard  officiated 
and  prayer  was  offered  up  for  the  Confederate 
Congress  for  the  first  time  publicly  in  this  country, 
I  suppose,  since  our  army  retreated  from  the  state. 
It  is  bitterly  cold.  Fortunately  the  troops  are 
lying  quiet  and  can  have  their  fires  to  keep  warm 
by.  I  feel,  I  assure  you,  for  the  poor  fellows  in 
the  skirmish  line  in  such  weather. 

"  In  each  brigade  a  detail  has  been  set  at  work 
making  shoes  for  the  barefooted  men  from  leather 


A  LETTER  FROM  THE  FRONT       215 

obtained  in  the  country.  They  are  making  some 
twenty  pairs  a  day  in  each  brigade,  and  in  addi- 
tion, there  is  a  large  supply  coming  from  the  rear, 
so  you  see  we  are  getting  on  finely. 

"The  Quartermasters  and  Commissaries  too  are 
hard  at  work  getting  other  supplies  and  the  R.  R. 
is  in  operation  from  Pulaski  to  Franklin.  We 
have  gotten  into  a  real  land  of  plenty  and  I 
sincerely  trust  we  shall  never  leave  the  State  except 
it  be  to  enter  Kentucky.  I  don't  believe  myself 
that  the  Yankees  will  allow  us  to  enter  Winter 
Quarters,  even  should  we  desire  it,  without  a  fight. 
Of  course,  in  order  to  make  a  fight  they  must 
leave  their  entrenchments,  and  if  they  attack  us 
in  ours  or  allow  us  to  attack  them  without  works, 
I  feel  not  the  slightest  fear  of  the  result.     .     . 


We  made  the  journey  to  Richmond  with  all 
possible  speed,  my  father  being  eager  to  be  at 
his  post  in  the  Senate ;  and  on  our  arrival  we  took 
up  our  quarters  at  "The  Spotswood."  We  found 
the  spirit  of  the  people  unchanged.  Our  reverses 
in  the  field  were  acknowledged;  our  diminishing 
resources  were  apparent  to  all;  shot  and  shell  and 
disease  had  decimated  our  gallant  armies ;  the  land 
ran  red  with  blood  and  the  wail  of  the  widow  and 
the  orphan  was  heard  above  the  roar  and  din  of 
battle;  vet  no  voice  was  raised  to  cry,  "Hold,  it 
is   enough."     Ultimate    defeat   was   not   contem- 


2i6  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

plated,  nor  discussed  as  a  possibility.  And  the 
women,  of  all  the  women  in  the  world  the  most 
gentle  and  feminine,  and  upon  whom  the  suffering 
and  sorrow  of  the  time  pressed  most  heavily,  the 
women  of  the  South,  were,  if  possible,  more  in- 
domitable in  their  courage  than  the  men!  It  was 
the  "tender  fierceness  of  the  dove,"  while  into 
their  own  gentle  breasts  they  received  each  wound 
by  which  a  hero  fell.  Of  them,  as  of  the  Blessed 
Sorrowing  Mother,  may  be  truly  said,  "Yea  and  a 
sword  shall  pierce  through  thine  own  soul  also." 

I  have  in  my  mind,  as  I  write,  a  picture  that 
comes  before  me  whenever  I  hear  of  the  suffering  of 
the  women  of  the  South.  I  was  on  a  train,  after 
Appomattox,  and  seated  across  the  aisle  were 
two  figures,  a  mother  and  her  son.  She  had 
journeyed  from  her  far-away  home  in  Alabama 
to  the  hospital  in  Richmond  to  find  her  boy  and 
bring  him  back  with  her.  She  found  him,  sitting 
there  waiting  for  her,  blind  and  helpless,  a  minie- 
ball  having  passed  through  his  head  just  back  of  the 
eyes,  absolutely  destroying  the  optic  nerve.  How 
she  had  made  that  journey,  in  weariness  and  pain- 
fulness  with  the  hope  deferred  and  the  sickening 
terror  of  what  awaited  her  at  the  end,  we  can 
never  know.  She  was  of  the  class  called  "poor 
white,"  her  faded  calico  gown  was  worn  and 
patched;  her  cheek  was  pale  and  the  eyes  deep-set 
and  pitiful  beyond  words.  At  her  side  sat  a 
patient  figure;  the  hands  folded  in  pathetic  idle- 


A  LETTER  FROM  THE  FRONT       217 

ness;    the    sightless    eyes    closed.     His   life    work 
done ;  his  young  manhood  yet  in  its  dawning ! 

The  war  is  over:  and  he,  blind  and  helpless  as 
an  infant,  is  journeying  to  his  desolate,  ruined 
home,  one  among  the  thousands  of  the  wrecks 
from  the  armies  of  the  South!  But  in  the  heart 
of  the  poor  old  mother  there  was  still  room  for 
a  great  joy — he  was  blind  and  helpless — but — he 
was  alive!  She  had  him  safe,  and  the  spirit  of  her 
mother  love  seemed  hovering  over  him  and  en- 
folding him  with  the  wings  of  peace. 


LAST  MONTHS  OF  THE  WAR 


1    ^c% 


CHAPTER  XIII 
Last  Months  of  the  War 

UNFALTERING  HOPE  AND  FAITH  OF  THE  SOUTH LETTERS  TO 

SENATOR  WIGFALL  FROM  GENERAL  WADE  HAMPTON,  VICE- 
PRESIDENT  ALEXANDER  H.  STEPHENS  AND  GENERAL 
ROBERT  E.  LEE— A  WAR  PICTURE  FROM  NORTH  CAROLINA 
— CHARACTER  SKETCH   OF   GENERAL  HOOD. 

Nnj^JSTAjNfr.R  n.f  the. ..ahsnhitp.  fai't.Ti_gf_our  people, 
even  at  this  late  day,  in  the  success  of  our  Cause, 
is  more  convincing  than  their  investment  nf  mnnfiy 
in  Confederate  bondSu-  during  these  last  months 
of  the  war. 

Many  circumstances  could  be  related  in  evidence 
of  this  fact ;  but  one  will  suffice.  My  grandmother,  ^ 
in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  had  succeeded  by 
some  means  in  sending  to  us  through  the  lines  >7j  'u,  "^ 
$1,000  in  gold.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation 
this  precious  metal  was  transmuted  into  Confed- 
erate bank  notes,  a  large  package  of  which,  con- 
sisting of  500-  and  1 00- dollar  bills  I  have  with  me 
now,  a  constant  reminder  of  the  implicit  faith  in 
the  success  of  the  good  Cause  that  was  lost.  I  am 
sure  my  father  would  nave  fertrtre  was  recreant  to 
his  country  if  he  had  admitted  to  himself  that 
Confederate  money  was  not  as  good  as  gold.     It 

221 


" 


222  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

may  not  have  been  of  the  wisdom  of  this  world, 
but  it  was  beautiful,  and  I  am  glad  he  did  it 
and  I  keep  my  bank  notes  and  shall  leave  them 
to  those  that  come  after  me,  as  an  infallible 
proof  that  the  civilization  of  the  old  South  pro- 
duced a  race  of  men,  who  maintained  what 
they  believed  to  be  their  constitutional  rights, 
sacrificed  every  material  gain,  and,  giving  freely 
of  their  own  lives  and  the  lives  of  their  sons, 
would  not  withhold  the  baser  treasures  of  silver 
and  gold. 

General  Wade  Hampton  writes  to  my  father 
at  this  time  the  following : 

"Hd.  Qrts.,  Jan.  20th,  1865. 
"My  dear  Wigjall: 

"Your  message  to  me  by  Mr.  Davis  reached 
me  a  day  or  two  ago.  As  I  am  about  to  start  to 
S.  C,  I  anticipate  your  letter  by  writing  at  once 
to  you.  It  gave  me  great  pleasure  to  see  your 
return  mentioned. 

" .  .  .  We  are  passing  through  a  fiery  ordeal 
but  if  we  '  quit  ourselves  like  men '  we  must  be 
successful.  I  do  not  allow  myself  to  contem- 
plate any  other  than  a  successful  issue  to  our 
struggle. 

"  I  have  given  far  more  than  all  my  property 
to  this  cause,  and  I  am  ready  to  give  all.  Genl. 
Lee  thinks  that  I  may  be  of  some  service  in  South 
Carolina  and  I  go  to  see  what  I  can  do  there.     .     . 


*Wli-^_ 


X-       Oou/^     Ua*locPs>W)      Cft^piu^^iu^^ 


LAST  MONTHS  OF  THE  WAR        223 

I  am  going  to  fight  for  my  State  and  I  am  willing 
to  fight  anywhere.  The  record  of  the  cavalry 
which  has  fought  under  my  command,  is  that  this 
campaign  has  been  an  honorable  one,  and  I  take 
great  pride  in  it.  They  have  been  successful  in 
every  fight — not  a  few — have  captured  large  sup- 
plies of  arms  and  taken  not  less  than  10,000 
prisoners.  So  I  leave  the  record  good.  .  .  . 
What  will  be  done  with  the  Army  of  Tennessee? 
You  know  how-^ig^"1)^  T  regard  Hood.'  how  much 
I  esteem  him,  but  it  seas  a  mistake  to  remove 
Johnston.  The  army  had  perfect  confidence  in  hirn_ 
and  I  am  convinced  that  they  will  not  fight  as 
well  under  anyone  else  as  under  him;  therefore 
do  I  regard  his  removal  as  a  national  calamity. 
And  if  the  President  would  reinstate  him  it  would 
not  only  restore  public  confidence,  but  would 
strengthen  the  President  greatly.  I  wish,  my 
dear  Wigfall,  that  you  would  forget  the  differences 
of  the  past  and  try  to  re-establish  the  intimate 
relations  that  once  existed  between  Mr.  Davis 
and  yourself.  You  can  aid  him  greatly  and  you 
can  serve  the  country  by  giving  him  counsel.  .  .  . 
I  wish  that  I  could  have  seen  you  before  leaving 
this  State,  as  there  is  much  I  want  to  talk  to  you 
about.  But  I  hope  to  meet  you  in  brighter 
times  when  my  heart  is  not  so  oppressed  by  public 
and  private  anxieties.  .  .  .  But  I  bate  not 
one  jot  or  tittle  of  our  claims  and  I  shall  fight  as 
long  as  I  can  wield  my  sabre.     I  hope  your  family 


224  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

are  well.     Give  my  kindest  regards  to  them  and 
believe  me  to  be, 

"  Very  sincerely,  your  friend, 
"  Hon.  L.  T.  Wigfall,  "  Wade  Hampton. 

"Write  to  Columbia." 

The  following  letter  written  to  my  father  by 
the  Vice-President,  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  is 
given  in  full: 

"13  Feb.,  1865. 
"Hon.  Louis  T.  Wigfall, 

"Richmond,  Va. 
"Dear  Sir: 

"  I  am  here  sick — laid  up  on  the  way — was 
taken  quite  unwell  night  before  last,  but  am  better 
now  and  hope  to  be  able  to  go  on  tomorrow.  I 
am  about  thirteen  miles  from  Charlotte  on  the 
road  to  Columbia.  I  drop  you  a  line  in  fulfilment 
of  my  promise  to  write  to  you  merely  to  say  that 
I  find  spirit  and  vitality  enough  in  the  mass  of 
the  people  as  far  as  I  have  met  with  them  on  my 
way  here.  All  that  is  wanting  is  the  proper 
wisdom  and  statesmanship  to  guide  it.  But  our 
ultimate  success,  in  my  deliberate  judgment,  will 
never  be  attained,  never  can  be,  without  a  speedy 
and  thorough  change  of  our  policy  towards  the 
masses  at  the  North.  We  must  show  that  we  war 
against  the  doctrines  and  principles  and  power 
of  the  radicals  there — the  fanatics,  the  aboli- 
tionists and  consolidationists — which  we  should  do, 


LAST  MONTHS  OF  THE  WAR        225 

and  say  anything  in  our  power  in  a  manly  way  to 
enlist  the  sympathy  and  action  of  all  the  true 
friends  there  of  Constitutional  liberty.  We  should 
show  them  we  are  fighting  their  battles  as  well  as 
our  own.  If  we  go  down;  if  our  liberties  are  lost 
in  these  waters,  theirs  will  be  too.  We  must  make 
them  allies  in  a  common  struggle.  We  must  not 
be  deterred  from  this  by  any  such  ghosts  as  the 
goblin  of  reconstruction.  On  this  point  the  future 
must  be  left  to  take  care  of  itself.  Congress  ought 
to  pass,  before  it  adjourns,  some  such  resolutions 
as  the  three  first  that  were  reported  to  the  House 
by  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs.  Numbers 
1,  2,  and  3  of  those  Resolutions  are  now  quite  as 
opportune  as  they  were  when  reported.  For 
the  remaining  Resolution  in  that  series  one  might 
be  substituted  embracing  some  of  the  ideas  in 
them  and  appealing  from  the  authorities  at  Wash- 
ington to  all  friends  of  Constitutional  liberty  at  the 
North — invoking  an  adjournment  of  the  questions 
of  strife  from  the  arbitrament  of  arms  to  the  forum 
of  reason — upon  the  great  principles  of  self 
Government,  on  which  all  American  institutions 
are  founded.  On  this  line  if  our  people  can  endure 
for  two  years  longer — all  may  yet  be  well.  But 
my  word  for  it,  the  only  peace  that  the  sword 
alone  will  bring  us  in  fighting,  the  United  North 
will  be  the  peace  of  death  and_subjugation. 
"  Yours  truly, 

"Alexander  H.Stephens." 


226  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  General 
Lee  to  my  father  in  answer  to  an  appeal  to  allow 
the  Texas  Brigade  to  go  home  to  recruit  the 
shattered  regiments — after  an  absence  of  four 
years.  How  little  they  could  have  anticipated 
the  near  approach  of  the  end  (this  was  just  two 
months  before  Appomattox)  to  be  contemplating 
that  long  journey  to  Texas  and  a  happy  return. 

"  Head  Quarters, 
"Army  N.  Va., 
"8th  February,   1865. 
"Hon.  Louis  T.  Wigfall, 

"  Richmond. 
"  Dear  Sir: 

"  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  3rd  inst. 
with  reference  to  permitting  the  Texas  Brigade 
to  return  home  to  recruit. 

"  No  troops  in  the  Army  have  earned  a  better 
title  to  indulgence  than  the  brave  Texas  Brigade, 
and  to  none  would  I  more  willingly  grant  any 
privilege  consistent  with  the  interests  of  the  service. 
I  have  no  doubt  but  that  they  would  return,  and 
I  hope  they  would  realize  all  you  promise  in  the 
way  of  recruits.  But  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
detach  any  men  from  this  army  now.  I  do  not 
think  that  we  shall  remain  long  inactive.  Oper- 
ations on  our  right  have  already  begun,  and  there 
are  indications  of  movements  in  other  quarters 
in  which  this  army  has  an  immediate  concern. 


^>  Wt+jl^  ^y^^  ^Aa^^o^ 


LAST  MONTHS  OF  THE  WAR        227 

Such  is  our  great  want  of  men,  that  the  absence 
of  even  four  hundred  would  be_  severely  telt, 
especially  four  hundred  of  our  best  troops.  I  see 
no  way  to  accomplish  your  wish  except  by  first 
bringing  some  regiments  or  a  brigade  from  Texas 
to  take  the  place  of  these  now  here.  If  that  can 
be  done  I  need  not  say  how  much  pleasure  it 
would  afford  me  to  let  the  old  brigade  go  home, 
and  how  pleased  I  should  be  to  see  it  return  aug- 
mented to  a  Division. 

"  I  do  think  it  extremely  important  that  some 
of  the  troops  west  of  the  Mississippi  should  be 
brought  to  this  side. 

"The  enemy  has  brought  away  a  large  part  of 
the  force  with  which  he  has  been  operating  in  the 
West,  and  concentrated  upon  our  eastern  armies. 
I  think  we  must  do  the  same  with  ours,  and  will 
be  greatly  obliged  for  any  assistance  you  can 
render  to  accomplish  it. 

"We  are  greatly  in  need  of  men.    - 
"  Very  respectfully, 
"  Your  obt.  servt., 

"R.  E.  Lee, 

"Genl." 

Ah!  the  pathos  of  this  letter!  Our  great  Gen- 
eral could  not  spare  four  hundred  men;  while  his 
adversary  had  all  the  world  from  which  to  draw 
recruits ! 

In  the  meantime,  the  brave  Army  of  Tennessee, 


228  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

under  the  gallant  Hood,  so  far  from  fulfilling  the 
bright  hopes  of  its  leader,  returned  from  a  disas- 
trous campaign  with  decimated  ranks,  and  Sher- 
man, in  his  march  to  the  sea,  was  devastating  the 
fair  country  through  which  he  passed. 

The  following  letter,  written  to  me  by  Mrs. 
Joseph  E.  Johnston,  the  wife  of  the  Commander 
of  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  gives  a  picture  of  the 
time: 

"Charlotte,  N.  C, 
"Feb.  19th,  1865. 
" .  .  .  I  take  advantage  of  this  sweet,  quiet 
Sunday  afternoon  for  a  little  chat  with  you.  It 
is  so  quiet  in  my  little  nook  and  the  bright  sun- 
shine outside  looks  so  cheerful  and  calm  that  'tis 
hard  to  realize  the  terrible  storm  of  war  that  is 
raging  within  a  few  miles  of  us,  or  the  scene  of 
excitement  and  fatigue  I  have  gone  through  my- 
self. At  last  Sherman  has  planted  himself  upon 
Carolina  soil,  and  the  pretty  little  town  of  Colum- 
bia, we  learn  to-day,  has  been  partially  destroyed ; 
and  alas  the  poor  women  and  children,  who  were 
forced  to  remain  there,  of  their  fate  we  know 
nothing;  but  oh  horrors,  have  everything  to  fear 
from  the  nature  of  the  savages  who  are  desolating 
their  homes.  What  a  sight  it  was  to  see  the  poor 
people  flying  almost  terror  stricken  to  know  what 
they  could  do — many  leaving  with  only  little 
bundles  of  clothes — and  many  compelled  to  re- 


LAST  MONTHS  OF  THE  WAR        229 

main,  for  they  had  nothing  but  God  to  look  to  for 
shelter.  ...  I  left  at  the  last  moment  on 
the  car  that  brought  the  powder  out.  We  only 
saved  our  clothes.  How  fortunate  we  were  to  do 
that,  for  many  saved  nothing.  We  left  with  the 
roar  of  the  cannon  in  our  ears ! 

" .  .  .  I  arrived  here,  after  spending  two 
days  and  nights  on  the  road — three  hundred  poor 
women  on  the  car  ahead  of  us — none  of  us  able 
to  get  rooms.  A  gentleman  came  down  to  the 
cars  at  twelve  at  night  and  brought  me  to  this 
home  and  gave  me  this  delicious  little  room,  and 
here  I  am  quite  sick,  with  a  Doctor  visiting  me.  I 
am  waiting  to  hear  from  the  General  to  know 
what  to  do.  Oh  these  terrible  times  of  ship- 
wreck— everything  looks  hopeless  to  me  now,  and 
then  if  we  are  to  go  down — we  are  so  far  apart  that 
we  can  see  nothing  of  each  other,  but  the  glimpse 
of  a  pale  face  as  it  sinks  out  of  sight!  What  a 
glorious  struggle  our  brave  people  have  made  for 
their  liberties!  The  sight  of  this  town  to-day  is 
lamentable :  women  hunting  in  every  direction  for 
shelter — and  the  people  themselves  beginning  to 
move  off  for  a  safer  place." 

General  Johnston,  in  a  letter  to  my  father,  says : 

"Genl.  M.  Cook,  U.  S.  A.,  told  several  of  our 
officers  made  prisoners  by  him,  but  rescued  by 
Wheeler,  that  Genl.  Sherman  said,  on  learning  of 


530  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

the  change  of  Commanders  of  our  army,  that 
heretofore  we  had  fought  as  Johnston  pleased, 
but  hereafter  'twould  be  as  he  pleased! " 

A  braver  man,  a  purer  patriot,  a  more  gallant 
soldier  never  breathed  than  General  Hood.  Aggres- 
sive, bold  and  eager,  the  "Fabian"  Policy  of 
General  Johnston  was  opposed  to  all  the  natural 
impulses  of  his  nature.  He  revelled  in  "  a  fight," 
and  firmly  believed  he  could  lead  his  troops  to  a 
victorious  conclusion  in  the  active  operations  he 
inaugurated  on  taking  command  of  the  Army  of 
Tennessee.  Though,  as  stated,  he  remonstrated 
on  General  Johnston's  being  removed  from  com- 
mand, yet  I  have  no  doubt  his  soldier  heart  beat 
with  eager  hope,  as  he  was  called  to  take  his  place, 
and  he  saw  in  fancy  his  brave  army  marching  to 
victory.  He  was  a  man  of  singular  simplicity  of 
character  and  charm  of  manner — boyish  in  his 
enthusiasm — superbly  handsome,  with  beautiful 
blue  eyes,  golden  hair  and  flowing  beard — broad 
shouldered,  tall  and  erect — a  noble  man  of  un- 
daunted courage  and  blameless  life.  We  made 
the  journey  with  him  homeward  when  the  war 
was  over.  I  can  see  him  now — we  were  in  a 
baggage  car,  seated  on  boxes  and  trunks  in  all 
the  misery  and  discomfort  of  the  time.  He  sat 
opposite,  and  with  calm,  sad  eyes  looked  out  on 
the  passing  scenes,  apparently  noting  nothing. 
The  cause  he  loved  was  lost — he  was  overwhelmed 


Photo  by  J.  A.  Sheldon,  New  Orleans 


LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  JOHN  B.   HOOD,  C.  S.  A. 


LAST  MONTHS  OF  THE  WAR        231 

with  humiliation  at  the  utter  failure  of  his  leader- 
ship—his pride  was  wounded  to  the  quick  by 
his  removal  from  command  and  Johnston's  re- 
instatement in  his  place;  he  was  maimed  by  the 
loss  of  a  leg  in  battle.  In  the  face  of  his  misery, 
which  was  greater  than  our  own,  we  sat  silent — 
there  seemed  no  comfort  anywhere.  And  the  end- 
ing of  his  life,  years  after,  was  even  more  sombre — 
dying  by  the  side  of  his  wife  with  yellow  fever  and 
leaving  a  family  of  little  children  to  mourn  a 
father,  who,  though  unsuccessful  in  the  glorious 
ambition  of  his  young  manhood,  left  to  them  the 
precious  heritage  of  a  stainless  name,  linked  ever 
with  the  highest  courage  and  purest  patriotism. 


THE  FALL  OF  THE  CURTAIN 


CHAPTER  XIV 

The  Fall  of  the  Curtain 

GENERAL    JOHNSTON    REINSTATED    TO    COMMAND    THE    ARMY 

OF  TENNESSEE HIS  SENTIMENTS  ON  THE  SUBJECT THE 

SURRENDER  AT  APPOMATTOX SENATOR  WIGFALL  ES- 
CAPES IN  DISGUISE THE  LAST  BALL  OF  THE  CONFED- 
ERACY  RETURN     OF     MAJOR     WIGFALL — POEM     ON     THE 

CONFEDERATE    FLAG. 

General  Lee  having  been  made  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Armies  of  the  Confederate  States,  a 
communication  was  sent  to  him  dated  Feb.  4th, 
1865,  from  the  Confederate  Senate  asking  him  to 
assign  General  Johnston  to  the  command  of  the 
Army  of  Tennessee.  After  the  fall  of  Columbia 
this  was  done. 

"C.  S.  Senate  Chamber, 

"4th  February,  1865. 
"Genl.  R.E.Lee. 

"  Sir:  The  undersigned  beg  leave  earnestly  but 
respectfully  to  recommend  the  assignment  of 
Genl.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  to  the  command  of  the 
troops  lately  composing  the  Army  of  Tennessee. 
We  are  induced  to  make  this  suggestion  by  infor- 
mation derived  from  such  sources  as  to  leave  us  no 

235 


236  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

room  to  doubt  its  correctness,  that  the  Army 
referred  to  is  seriously  disorganized,  and  that  the 
surest,  if  not  the  only  means  of  effecting  its 
speedy  reorganization,  and  of  restoring  its  discip- 
line and  efficiency  in  time  for  the  approaching 
campaign,  will  be  the  immediate  return  of  its 
former  commander,  whose  assignment  to  that 
position  is  universally  desired  by  the  Officers  and 
Soldiers  of  that  Army.  We  are  further  persuaded 
that  among  the  people  of  those  important  and 
principal  States  of  the  Confederacy  which  have 
looked  to  the  Army  of  Tennessee  as  furnishing 
their  chief  defence  against  the  forces  with  which 
the  enemy  is  seeking  to  overcome  them,  the 
desire  is  not  only  general,  but  intense,  that  the 
principal  Army  designed  for  their  protection 
should  be  placed  under  the  command  of 
Genl.  Johnston.  And  we  are  convinced  that 
the  gratification  of  their  wishes  on  this  point 
would  materially  assist  in  dissipating  the  feel- 
ing of  despondency  which  undoubtedly  pre- 
vails to  a  considerable  extent  in  those  States, 
and  do  much  towards  restoring  public  confi- 
dence and  reanimating  the  hopes  and  courage  of 
the  people. 

"  In  making  this  suggestion  to  you,  we  assume 
that  under  the  recent  Act,  by  virtue  of  which,  you 
have  been  appointed  General  in  Chief  of  the  Armies 
of  the  Confederate  States,  the  right  and  duty  of 
assigning  the  General  Officers  to  command  our 


MISS  MARY  MABEN,  OF  YIRG1NL 
(Mrs.  Frank  Peyton  Clark,  cf  Baltimore) 


THE  FALL  OF  THE  CURTAIN        237 

different  Annies,  are  devolved  upon  you.  Such 
we  believe  was  the  intention  of  Congress  in  passing 
the  Act,  and  such  we  trust  will  be  its  practical 
construction. 

"  In  conclusion  we  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that 
in  recommending  the  assignment  of  Genl.  Johnston 
to  the  command  in  question,  we  have  been  in- 
fluenced by  an  imperative  sense  of  duty,  and 
by  a  firm  conviction  that  what  we  have  ad- 
vised, would  be  promotive  of  the  public  good, 
if  indeed  it  be  not  essential  to  the  public 
safety. 

"  With  high  respect, 
"  Your  obdt.  Servants, 
"  R.  H.  Walker,  Ala.         James  L.  Orr,  So.  Ca. 
A.  T.  Caperton,  Va.  Geo.  G.  Vest,  Mo. 

Landon  C.  Haynes,  Ten.   W.  E.  Simms,  Ken. 
Waldo  P.  Johnson,  Mo.     W.  A.  Graham,  No.  Ca. 
A.  H.  Garland,  Ark.  W.  S.  Oldham,  Texas. 

Jos.  C.  Watson,  Miss.         Wm.  T.  Dortch,  No.  Ca. 
H.  C.  Burnett,  Ken.  A.  G.  Brown,  Miss. 

Louis  T.  Wigfall,  Texas." 

"  Without  committing  myself  to  all  the  reasons 
set  forth  in  the  foregoing  paper,  I  cordially 
endorse  the  recommendation  in  it  for  the  assign- 
ment of  Genl.  Johnston  to  the  position  re- 
quested. 

"Alexander  H.  Stephens, 

"V.  P.  C.  S.  A. 


238  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

"  I  concur  in  the  foregoing  recommendation, 
not  agreeing  however,  to  the  view  expressed  in  the 
paragraph  next  preceding  the  last. 

"  A.  E.  Maxwell,  Flo. 
"Jas.  M.  Baker,  Flo. 
"  Official. 

"W.H.Taylor, 
"A.A.G." 

"  Hd.  Qrs.  Armies  C.  States, 

"  13  Feb.,  1865. 
"  Gentlemen: 

"  I  had  yesterday  the  honor  to  receive  your 
letter  of  the  4th  inst.,  recommending  the  assign- 
ment of  Genl.  Jos.  E.  Johnston  to  the  command  of 
the  Army  of  Tennessee.  The  three  corps  of  that 
Army  have  been  ordered  to  So.  Ca.,  and  are  now 
under  the  command  of  Genl.  Beauregard,  two  of 
them  having  already  arrived  in  that  Deptmt.  I 
entertain  a  high  opinion  of  Gen.  Johnston's  capa- 
city, but  think  a  continued  change  of  commanders 
is  very  injurious  to  any  troops,  and  tends  greatly 
to  their  disorganization.  At  this  time  as  far  as 
I  understand  the  condition  of  affairs,  an  engage- 
ment with  the  enemy  may  be  expected  any 
day,  and  a  change  now  would  be  particularly 
hazardous.  Genl.  Beauregard  is  well  known  to 
the  citizens  of  So.  Ca.,  as  well  as  to  the 
troops  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  and  I 
would  recommend    that    it    be    certainly   ascer- 


MISS  TURNER  MacFARLAND,  OF  VIRGINIA 
(Mrs.  J.  Willcox  Brown,  of  Baltimore) 


THE  FALL  OF  THE  CURTAIN        239 

tained  that  a  change   was   necessary,    before  it 
was  made. 

"I  do  not  consider  that  my  appt.  as  Gen.  in 
chief  of  the  Armies  of  the  C.  States,  confers  the 
right  which  you  assume  belongs  to  it,  nor  is  it 
proper  that  it  should.  I  can  only  employ  such 
troops  and  Officers  as  may  be  placed  at  my  dis- 
posal by  the  War  Dpt.  Those  withheld  or  relieved 
from  service  are  not  at  my  disposal. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"  Your  most  obdt.  svt., 

"R.  E.  Lee, 
"  Honble.  A.  H.  Stephens,  "  Genl." 

Honl.  A.  E.  Maxwell, 
&c,  &c." 

"  Senate  Chamber, 
"  10th  February,  1865. 
"  My  dear  Sir: 

" A  letter  has  been  addressed  to  you,  urging  the 
assignment  of  Genl.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  to  the 
command  of  the  Army  in  front  of  Sherman.  This 
letter  has  been  numerously  signed  by  Senators, 
of  whom  I  was  not  one.  I  did  not  sign  because 
I  did  not  wish  to  embarrass  you.  But  my  opinion 
is,  that  such  an  assignment  would  have  a  most 
beneficial  effect.  If  I  am  to  trust  the  manifes- 
tations which  I  have  witnessed  from  certain  mem- 
bers of  Congress,  there  is  nothing  which  could  be 
done,  which  would  so  much  revive  hope,  as  the 


24o  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

assignment  of  Genl.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  to  the 
command  of  that  Army. 

"  Very  truly  and  respectfully, 
"  Your  friend, 
"  Official.  "  R.  M.  T.  Hunter." 

W.  H.  Taylor,  A.  A.  G." 

General  Johnston,  after  taking  command  of  the 
little  remnant  of  the  army,  wrote  to  my  father  the 
following  letter — which  gives  a  clear  idea  of  the 
feeling  between  these  two  great  men,  Lee  and 
Johnston. 

"Raleigh,  March  14th,  1865. 
"  My  dear  Wigfall: 

"I  have  just  received  yours  of  February  27th. 
I  have  been  for  two  weeks  looking  for  an  oppor- 
tunity other  than  by  mail,  to  send  you  a  letter. 
But  all  are  reported  to  me  too  late. 

"  What  you  write  me  of  Lee  gratifies  me  beyond 
measure.  In  youth  and  early  manhood  I  loved 
and  admired  him  more  than  any  man  in  the  world. 
Since  then  we  have  had  little  intercourse  and  have 
become  formal  in  our  personal  intercourse.  A  good 
deal,  I  think,  from  change  of  taste  and  habits,  in  one 
or  the  other.  When  we  are  together  former  feelings 
always  return.  I  have  long  thought  that  he  had 
forgotten  our  early  friendship:  to  be  convinced 
that  I  was  mistaken  in  so  thinking  would  give  me 
inexpressible  pleasure.     Be  assured,  however,  that 


THE  FALL  OF  THE  CURTAIN        241 

Knight  of  old  never  fought  under  his  King  more 
loyally  than  I'll  serve  under  Gen.  Lee.  [In  another 
letter  he  speaks  of  serving  under  Gen.  Lee  'as 
loyally  as  my  father  served  under  his  in  the  first 
revolution.']  I  have  suggested  to  him  what  seems 
to  be  the  only  course  for  us,  should  Sherman 
endeavor   to   join   Grant. 

"As  ever  yours, 

"J.  E.  Johnston." 

It  seems  almost  incredible  and  yet  it  is  a  fact 
that  several  entertainments  were  given  in  Rich- 
mond in  January  and  February,  1865.  The  most 
notable  of  these  was  at  the  beautiful  home  of  the 
Welfords  which  was  rilled  with  guests  who  danced 
at  what,  I  believe,  was  the  last  ball  of  the  Con- 
federacy. Grandmothers'  satins  and  brocades 
figured  on  the  occasion;  and  I  warrant  no  lovelier 
group  of  women,  nor  company  of  more  gallant 
gentlemen,  were  ever  gathered.  How  the  fiddles 
scraped  and  the  music  swelled  for  "the  dancers 
dancing  in  tune;"  while  they  shut  their  ears  and 
would  not  hear  the  minor  key  that  wailed  the  ruin 
of  our  hopes.  And  the  grim  shade  of  Appomattox, 
looming  dark  already  on  the  horizon,  stalked  ever 
nearer  and  nearer. 

In  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  dated 
"Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  March  15th,  1865,"  I 
find  this  record:  "  Charlotte  is  in  a  state  of  great 
excitement  to-day,   at  the   arrival  of  the   Presi- 


242  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

dent's  family,  on  their  way  South.  What  does  it 
mean?  Everybody  seems  to  think  it  is  the  pre- 
lude to  the  abandonment  of  Richmond.  How 
sad  it  seems  after  such  a  struggle  as  that  noble 
army  has  made  to  keep  it!  These  terrible  dark 
hours,  when  will  they  be  past? " 

A  week  before  its  evacuation  we  left  Richmond. 
It  was  a  lovely  evening  late  in  March. 

"  And  as  I  saw  around  me  the  wide  world  revive 
With  fruits  and  fertile  promise,  and  the  Spring 
Come  forth  her  work  of  gladness  to  contrive 
With  all  her  joyous  birds  upon  the  wing, 
I  turned  from  all  she  brought  to  those  she  could  not  bring." 

As  the  train  pulled  out  and  ran  slowly  across 
the  long  bridge  over  the  James,  we  watched  with 
aching  hearts  the  sunshine  lingering  with  loving 
light  on  the  towers  and  spires  of  this  city,  which 
is  veritably  "  set  on  a  hill " — and  the  light  shining 
there  seemed  but  a  reflection  of  the  glory  which 
shall  for  all  time  linger  around  her  as  the  Capital 
of  the  Confederacy. 

We  stopped  in  Raleigh  and  there  heard  pi-fee 
fall  of  Richmond  and  the^urrender  .atAppomattox^ 
There  we  were  joined  by  several  of  the  Cabinet 
and  Members  of  Congress  and  traveled  in  com- 
pany with  them  to  Georgia. 

After  General  Johnston's  sijrrpnHer.  which  fol- 
lqwed  on  AprilgjSth — and  the  capture  ofthe  Presi- 
dent— it  became   necessary,   in   order   to   escape 


MISS  NANNIE  ENDERS,  OF  VIRGINIA. 
(Mrs.  J.  Caskie  Cabell,  of  Richmond) 


THE  FALL  OF  THE  CURTAIN        243 

arrest,  that  my  father  should  make  all  possible 
effort  to  conceal  his  identity,  and  endeavor  to 
make  his  way  across  the  Mississippi  river  as  speed- 
ily as  might  be,  where  Kirby  Smith  was  still 
commanding  the  remnant  of  an  army.  To  this 
end  he  donned  the  garb  of  a  private  soldier, 
shaved  off  his  beard  and  procured  a  borrowed 
parole.     I  have  it  yet. 

"Appomattox  Court  House,  Va., 

"April  10th,  1865. 
"The  Bearer,  pri.  J.  A.  White,  of  Co.  M.  First 
Regt.  of  Texas  Vols.,  a  paroled  Prisoner  of  the 
Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  has  permission  to  go 
to  his  home,  and  there  remain  undisturbed. 

"  Jno.  N.  Wilson,  Capt. 

"commdg." 

The  next  step  was  to  secure  a  large  covered 
wagon,  in  which  could  be  stowed  away  the  few 
belongings  we  had  with  us,  and  four  strong  mules 
to  draw  the  load.  Then  an  escort  of  paroled 
Texas  soldiers  was  found,  among  whom  my  father 
took  his  place.  Some  kind  friend  provided  a 
saddle  horse  for  me;  and  clad  in  a  homespun  dress, 
and  with  my  head  covered  by  a  poke  sun-bonnet 
I  rode  alongside  of  the  wagon.  We  were  appar- 
ently a  family  of  country  people  moving  from  one 
State  to  another;  and  that  a  number  of  soldiers 
tramped  along  in  company  with  us  excited  no 


244  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

surprise,  as  the  country  side  was  full  of  these  poor 
tired,  heart  broken  travelers,  making  their  way 
back  to  their  ruined  homes.  It  is  recorded  of  one 
of  these  pitiful  wayfarers,  that  he  wandered  at 
eventide  to  the  door  of  a  farmhouse,  and  accosted 
the  woman  standing  there,  with  "  Stranger,  whar's 
the  spring — have  you  got  any  milk?  I  am  so 
hongry,  I  don't  know  where  I  am  going  to  sleep 
to-night."  But  to  return  to  our  journey.  Our 
plan  was  to  travel  direct  through- the.  Staie-of 
Alabama,  to  Montgomery.  And  this  we  did, 
riding  one  hundred  miles  through  the  State.  Of 
course  we  had  nojiione v ;  that  is,  what  the  outside 
world  called  by  that  name.  We  had  thousands  of 
our  dear  old  Confederate  Currency,  in  $100  and  $500 
bills,  (with  Stonewall  Jackson's  head  engraved  in 
one  corner,  and  the  Confederate  banner  draped 
over  General  Washington,  on  the  Great  Seal,  with 
"  Deo  Vindice "  underneath  it,  on  the  other)  but 
some  kind  friend  had  given  us  a  large  box  of 
tobacco,  which  was  as  good  as  specie  any  time 
jfor  a  trade—so  we  went  on  our  way — not  rejoicing 
— alas!  far  from  it;  but  -with  h^avy  hearts — while 
my  father  tramped  the  weary  miles  on  foot  among 
the  Texas  boys,  who  were  proud  enough  to  have 
the  company  of  their  former  General  and  Senator 
in  such  unceremonious  guise.  And  you  may  be 
sure  they  never  told  who  he  was.  All  things 
come  to  an  end;  and  nearing  Montgomery  we 
stopped    over    night    at    Governor    Fitzpatrick's 


THE  FALL  OF  THE  CURTAIN        245 

plantation,  and  had  a  rousing  welcome  and  the 
best  accommodations  for  tired  travelers.  My 
father  and  the  Governor  had  much  to  talk  over. 
When  last  he  had  seen  him  he  was  United  States 
Senator  from  Alabama,  and  possible  candidate 
for  the  Vice-Presidency  on  the  Breckinridge  ticket. 
And  now!  Well,  the  next  morning  we  continued 
on  our  way,  and  nearing  Montgomery  we  caught 
sight  of  the  first  Federal  pickets.  I  can  feel  now 
over  again  that  suffocating  sensation  that  sent  the  j 
blood  surging  through  the  veins  at  sight  of  them. 
It  was  all  over  indeed ! 

Here  we  parted  from  my  father,  who  was  to 
make  his  way  with  the  soldiers,  home  to  Texas, 
as  it  was  not  safe  to  go  with  us,  through  towns  and 
in  the  ordinary  mode  of  traveling  by  railway  and 
boat.  We  were  received  into  the  hospitable  home 
of  Mrs.  Knox  on  the  outskirts  of  Montgomery. 
Here,  even  the  stress  and  straits  of  war  had  not 
been  able  to  make  an  impression  on  the  delightful 
luxury  of  her  well  appointed  home.  Oh!  the  bliss 
of  those  delicious  beds  and  the  sweet  linen  sheets 
and  the  comfortable  meals.  It  seemed  like  a  haven 
of  rest  after  that  terrible  journey.  In  a  few  days 
Governor  Watts,  true  friend  and  noble  patriot, 
with  heart  and  hand  open  to  share  his  all  with  his 
countrymen,  came  for  us  and  took  us  to  his  home, 
where  plans  were  made  for  our  reaching  our  ulti- 
mate destination.  Here  we  waited  for  some 
weeks,  hoping  for  tidings  from  my  brother,  who 


246  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '6i 

we  had  heard  was  making  his  way  in  our  direction. 
One  evening,  about  dark,  I  was  standing  at  the 
gate,  watching  down  the  road,  with  hardly  a 
thought  or  hope  of  his  appearing,  when,  far  up 
the  dusty  highway,  I  saw  him  coming.  He 
walked  slowly,  unlike  the  brisk  step  I  knew  of  old; 
absolute  dejection  was  in  his  mien,  and  he  had  no 
joyous  greeting  to  give  me.  His  uniform  was 
worn  and  soiled,  and  he  had  taken  from  his  collar 
the  gold  stars  of  his  rank.  Somehow  I  had  no 
word  to  say.  We  stood  and  looked  at  each  other. 
Finally,  we  found  speech,  and  to  my  query, 
"What  are  you  going  to  do?"  he  answered,  "I 
am  on  my  way  across  the  river  to  join  Kirby 
Smith."  I  laid  my  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  and 
paused  a  moment,  "Have  you  not  heard,"  I  said, 
"  Kirby  Smith  has  surrendered. " 


THE  CONFEDERATE  FLAG 

"Requiescat  in  Pace" 


THE  CONFEDERATE  FLAG 
" Requiescat  in  Pace" 

The  hands  of  our  women  made  it! 
'Twas  baptized  in  our  mother's  tears! 
And  drenched  with  blood  of  our  kindred, 
While  with  hope  for  those  four  long  years, 
Across   vale    and   plain   we   watched  it, 
Where  the  red  tide  of  battle  rolled 
And  with  tear-dimmed  eyes  we  followed 
The  wave  of  each  silken  fold. 

As  high  o'er  our  hosts  it  floated, 
Through  the  dust  and  din  of  the  fight, 
We  caught  the  glint  of  the  spear-head 
And  the  flash  of  its  crimson  light! 
While  the  blood  of  the  men  who  bore  it 
Flowed  fast  on  the  reddened  plain, 
Till  our  cry  went  up  in  anguish 
To  God,  for  our  martyred  slain! 

And  we  wept,  and  watched,  and  waited 
By  our  lonely  household  fire, 
For  the  mother  gave  her  first  born, 
And  the  daughter  gave  her  sire ! 
And  the  wife  sent  forth  her  husband, 
And  the  maiden  her  lover  sweet ; 
And  our  hearts  kept  time  in  the  silence 
To  the  rhythmic  tread  of  their  feet 

249 


25o  A  SOUTHERN  GIRL  IN  '61 

As  they  marched  o'er  vale  and  mountain 
While  our  banner  rose  and  fell, 
Though  victory  often  crowned  it, 
As  the  Northern  hosts  can  tell! 
But  the  whole  world  was  against  us : 
We  fought  our  fight  all  alone. 
To  the  conquerors  Want  and  Famine, 
We  laid  our  standard  down. 

Cold  are  the  loved  hands  that  bore  it! 

Stilled  are  the  brave  hearts  and  true! 

Watching  nor  waiting  can  bring  them, 

Weeping  is  all  we  can  do! 

Light  from  our  banner  has  faded, 

We,  in  its  shadow  forlorn 

Have  only  our  mem'ries  left  us, 

And  our  battle  flag  drooping  and  torn! 

No  hand  of  vandal  shall  touch  it!  p 

'Tis  shrined  in  our  heart  of  hearts, 
With  dearest,  holiest  mem'ries 
And  the  burning  tear  drop  starts 
While  laurel  we  weave  and  cypress, 
For  the  fair,  the  brave,  the  good; 
The  only  stain  on  our  banner 
Is  the  stain  of  our  heroes'  blood! 

Louise  Wigfall  Wright 


RADICAL  MEMBERS  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA 

These  are  the  photographs  of  sixty-three  members  of  the  "  reconstructed"  Legislature  of  South 
Carolina.  Fifty  of  them  were  Negroes  or  Mulattos  ;  thirteen  were  white  men.  Of  the  twenty-two 
among  them  who  could  read  and  write  only  eight  used  the  vernacular  grammatically.  Forty -one  made 
their  mark  with  the  help  of  an  amanuensis.  Nineteen  were  taxpayers  to  an  aggregate  of  S146.10.  The 
other  forty-four  paid  no  taxes,  and  yet  this  bodv  was  empowered  to  levy  on  the' white  people  of  the  state 
taxes  amounting  to  $4,000,000. 


I 


.'-  ■ 


INDEX 


INDEX 


Anderson,   Major,   37,   38,   39, 

41,  42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  50. 
Ashby,  Turner,  78. 
Austin,  Texas,  4,  6. 

Babcock,  Miss  Emma,  59,  61. 
Baptists,  15. 

Bartow,  Colonel  and  Mrs.,  73. 
Beauregard,  General  G.  T.,  36, 

Letter   to    Colonel    Wigfall 
after  Fort  Sumter  battle, 

44,  46,  S°-  67- 
Letter    to    Senator  Wigfall 
before  battle  of  Manassas, 
71,  72. 
Superseded,  87. 
Beaux  and  Belles,  77. 
Beckham,  Major,  129,  212,  213. 
Benjamin,  Hon.  Judah  P.,  30. 
Boston,  52,  57,  59,  60. 
Boy  Hero  of  the  South,  217. 
Bragg,  General,  87,  96,  99. 
Breathed,  Captain,  129. 
Breckenridge,  General  John  C, 

anecdote  of,  27,  28. 
Brewster,  Colonel  Harry  P.,  91, 

178. 
Brokenbrough,  Dr.  and  Mrs.,  79. 
Brooks,  Hon.  Preston,  duel  with 

Louis  T.  Wigfall,  31. 
Burnside,    General    A.    E.,    97, 

103,  116. 
Butler,  Pierce  M.,  Governor  of 
South  Carolina,  31. 

Cameron,   Simon,   Secretary  of 

War,  50,  65. 
Canada,  Commissioner  from,  to 

Confederacy,   22. 
Cary  Invincibles,  the,  76,  77. 
Cary,  Miss  Constance,  77. 


Cary,  Miss  Hetty,  anecdote  of, 

120. 
Cartes  de  Visite,  22. 
Chancellorsville,  battle  of,   127, 

129. 
Chandler,  Senator, violent  speech 

against  South ;  retort  of  Sena- 
tor Wigfall,  32. 
Charleston,  35,  46,  141. 
Charlottesville,  board  $10  a  day; 

"allowanced  to   butter,"    35. 
Tournament  at,  150. 
Chesnut,  Mrs.  James,  38,  50. 

Letter  to  Mrs.  Wigfall,  83. 
Chickamauga,  battle  of,  149. 
Clay,  Mrs.  C.  G,  21. 

Greets  General  J.  E.  John- 
ston  with   sympathy   on 
removal,    186. 
Clay,  Senator  0.  C,  21. 
Code  duello,   31. 
Columbia,  S.  C.,  84. 
Comet  of  1858,  3. 
Commencements,  importance  of, 

19. 
"Confederate  flag,"  249. 
Confederate    money,    $1,000    in 

gold,  $40,000  in  Confederate 

money,  221,  244. 
Cotton,  54. 

Cross,  Mrs.  F.  M.,  62. 
Culpeper  Court  House,  ball  at, 

136. 

Dahlgren's  raid  around  Rich- 
mond; orders  to  sack  and 
loot  the  city  found  on  his 
person;  quantities  of  oakum 
and  turpentine  to  burn  city 
found,  166. 

Daniel,  Major  John  Moncure, 
Richmond  Examiner,  92. 


253 


2  54 


INDEX — Continued 


Davis,   Jefferson,   anecdote    of, 
29. 
Letter  to  Senator  Wigfall, 

37,  88-89. 
Inauguration  of,  76. 
Fettered  in  a  cell  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  160. 
Davis,  Mrs.  Jefferson,  50,  56. 

Anecdote  of,  57. 
"Dixie,"  65. 
Douglas,  Lieutenant-Colonel  F. 

F.,  205. 
Drewry's  Bluff,  135. 
Dumfries,  life  at,  74. 

Elzey,  General  and  Mrs.,  92. 
Erlanger,  Baroness  of,  22. 
Examiner,  the  Richmond,  74. 
Ewell,    Colonel,    General    J.  E. 
Johnston's  staff,  179. 

Floyd,  John  B.,  Secretary  of 
War,  letter  to  Andrew  John- 
son, 34. 

Galveston,  Texas,  20. 
Georgia  Militia,  190. 
Gettysburg,  137,  139,  143. 
Grant,  General  U.  S.,  100. 
Gwin,    Senator    William,    from 
California,  34. 

Hampton,  General  Wade,  anec- 
dote of,  32. 
Slightly  wounded,  73. 
Letter  to  Senator  Wigfall, 

142. 
Letter  to  Senator  Wigfall, 
"I  shall  fight  as  long  as 
I  can  wield  my  sabre," 
223. 
Handcuffs  for  Confederate  pris- 
oners,  74. 
Hardie,    General,    sham   battle, 

174,  182,  188. 
Harrison,  Burton,  77. 
Hartstein,  Captain,  37. 
Holmes,  General,  99,  10 1. 
Homeward  journey,  243. 
Hood,  General  John  B.,  82. 

Letter  to  Senator  Wigfall, 
94,  95- 


Hood,  Loses  a  leg,  149. 

Wonderful  endurance,  173. 
Receives  a  formal  welcome 
to  Tennessee   from  Gov- 
ernor Harris  on  march  to 
Nashville,  214. 
Sketch  of  a  gallant  soldier, 
230,  231. 
Hospital     train,     moving     the 

wounded,   179. 
Hunter,   Senator   R.   M.   T.,  of 
Virginia,  30. 

Inauguration      of      President 

Davis,  76. 
Iron  Battery,  39. 
Izard,  Mrs.,  84. 

Jackson,  General  "Stonewall," 
80,  95,   103. 
Anecdote  of,  121. 
Death     and     burial,     126, 
127. 
Johnson,  Andy,  33. 
Johnson,       General     and     Mrs. 
Bradley  T.,  anecdote  of,  56, 

57- 
Johnston,  General  J.   E.,  joins 
Beauregard,  73. 

Wounding  of  at  Seven 
Pines;  General  Lee  suc- 
ceeds him  in  command 
of  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia, 78. 

Given  command  of  armies 
in  the  West,  96. 

Letter  to  Senator  Wigfall 
on  conditions  of  Western 
armies,  98,  100. 

Letter  from  Chattanooga, 
104,  121-123. 

Letter  from  Jackson,  Miss., 
106,  107,  108. 

Letter  from  Knoxville,  123. 

Letter  from  Meridian,  155. 

Letter  from  Brandon,   161. 

Letter  from  Dalton,  pro- 
posed substitution  of 
slaves  for  soldiers  on  de- 
tached service,  168. 

Removed  from  command  of 
Army  of  Tennessee,  181. 


INDEX — Continued 


255 


Johnston,  Home  life  of  General 
and  Mrs.,  in  Macon,  186. 
Leaves  Macon  and  goes  to 
Vineville;  "messing"  with 
General  Mackall's  family 
and  officers  of  the  staff, 

193- 
Sympathy  with  young  peo- 
ple;  mirth   and  sadness, 

J95- 
Restored    to    command    of 
Army  of  Tennessee,   235. 
Surrendered  April  26,  1865, 
242. 
Johnston,  Mrs.  J.  E.,  80,  90,  96. 
Residence  in  Atlanta,  178. 
A  pair  of  conspirators,  195. 
Letter  to  Mrs.  Wigfall,  228, 
242. 
Johnston,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  73. 
Jones,  Major  D.  R.,  46. 

"Lady  Davis,"  35. 

Latane,  John,  78. 

Latane\  William,  burial  of,  79. 

Lee,    Fitzhugh,    "cavalry   on    a 

lark,"  167. 
Lee,  General  Robert  E.,  78,  93. 
Letter   to    Senator    Wigfall 
praising    Texas    Brigade, 
94. 
Confidence  of,  in. 
Pathetic  letter  to   Senator 
Wigfall,   227. 
Lee,  General  Stephen  D.,  184. 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  22,  59. 
Lincoln,  Mrs.  A.,  59. 
Longstreet,  General  J.  B.,  89,  90. 
Letter  to  General  Wigfall, 
148,  149. 
Longwood,  near  Boston,  33,  37, 

57-. 
Louisiana  swamps,    205. 
Lubbock,  Governor  Frank,  190. 
Lyons,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James,  35. 

Mackall,  Captain  Thomas  B., 
His  revenge — a  practical  joke, 
195,  196,  197,  199,  200. 

Mackall,  General  W.  W.,  General 
J.  E.  Johnston's  Chief  of 
Staff,  184. 


McCord,  Captain  Cheves,  84. 

McCulloch,  General  Ben,  33. 

McLean,  Mrs.,  daughter  of  Gen- 
eral Sumner,  U.  S.  A.,  128. 

McClellan's  army,  34,  77. 

Manassas,  battle  of,  67. 

Manning,  Governor  John  Lau- 
rens, South  Carolina,  31. 

Marshall,  Colonel,  First  Texas 
Regiment,  82. 

Marshall,  Texas,  village  life  in, 

3,   ii- 
Maryland  Legislature,  65. 
Medical    stores    declared    "con- 
traband of  war,"   180. 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  21. 
Methodist  gatherings,  14. 
Mississippi    River,    steamboats, 
21. 
Crossing  the,  to  Louisiana, 

177. 
Crossing  in  "dugouts,"  203. 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  33. 
Description  of,  49. 
Monroe,  Fortress,  35,  60. 
Morris's  Island,  39,  45,  65. 
Morse,    purchase   of   pistols   for 
Confederate    States   in    Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  33. 
Moultrie,  Fort,  42. 

Negroes,  anecdotes  of  faithful, 

12,  15,  16,  17. 
New  Orleans,  La.,  21. 
New   York    Times,    account    of 

surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  and 

General   Wigfall 's   connection 

with,  41,  44. 
Nicholas,  Robert,  81. 
Nightingale,  Florence,  53. 

Ochiltree,  "Tom,"  20,  51. 
Oliver    Twists    of    the     Army, 
i75- 

Palmetto  Guard,  46. 

Pegram,  General  John,  120. 

Pegram,  Miss,  fashionable  school 
on  Franklin  Street,  Rich- 
mond,  77. 

Pegram,  William,  "The  Boy 
Artillerist,"  78. 


256 


INDEX — Continued 


Pelham,    John,     "The    Gallant 
Pelham,"  78. 
Death  and  burial,  126. 
Pemberton,  General,  99,  107. 
Pendleton,  General,  sermon  by, 

J73- 
Pickens,  Governor  F.  W.,  South 

Carolina,   58. 
Picket,  General,   176. 
Pickets,  Federal,  245. 
Pizzini's,    135. 
Point    of    Rocks,    crossing    the 

Potomac  under  flag  of  truce, 

65- 
Polk,  Bishop  General,  92. 
Polignac,     Prince    Camille     de, 
joins  Confederate  Army, 
92. 
Anecdote  of,  93. 
Preston,  General  J.  S.,  183. 
Preston,  Major,  183. 
Preston,  Mrs.,  84. 
Price     of      living,     exorbitant, 

129. 
Prisoners  in  Richmond,  128. 
Provisional   Government    0.    S. 
A-,  33- 

Quintard,  Doctor,  prayer  for 
Confederate  Congress  in 
Tennessee,  December  11,  '64, 
214. 

Ravenel,  St.  Julien  R.,  40. 
Richmond,  34. 

Spotswood  Hotel,  34,  55, 
66,  215. 

Camps  of  instruction,  56. 

Presentation  of  Texas  flag 
by  President  Davis  to 
First  Texas  Regiment,  66. 

Social  pleasures,  76. 

Grace  Street,  90. 

Franklin  Street  on  a  fine 
afternoon,  118. 

A  terrible  night,  201. 

The  last  ball  of  the  Con- 
federacy in  Richmond, 
241. 

A  week  before  evacuation, 
242. 
Rosecranz,  General,  100. 


Scott,  General  Winfield  S.,  61, 

63.  73- 
Seddon,  James  A.,   Secretary  of 
War,  100. 
Letter  to   Senator  Wigfall, 
104. 
Serenades  and  strawberry  feasts, 

135- 
Seven  Days'  Battle — Letter  from 

Mrs.  Wigfall,  80. 
Seven  Pines,  battle  of,  wounding 
of  General  J.  E.  Johnston, 
78. 
General    Lee    succeeds    m 
command     of    Army    of 
Northern  Virginia,  78. 
Sherman,  188. 

Threatens  Macon,  200. 
Advance  of,  201. 
Shiloh,  battle  of,  91. 
Simons,  General,  45. 
'Sixty-three     and    'Sixty-four — 
Campaign    of    heroic    endur- 
ance,  165. 
Slidell,  Senator  and  Mrs.,  22. 
Small-pox  and  asafcetida,  200. 
Smith,  General  G.  W.,  19c. 
Smith,  General  Kirby,  96,  105, 

142,  246. 
Snowball  battle  between  school- 
girls and  soldiers,  118. 
Sprague,    Governor,    Rhode   Is- 
land, 53. 
St.  Charles  Hotel,  21. 
Stephens,  Alexander  H.,  V.   P. 
0.    S.    A.,    letter    to    Senator 
Wigfall,  224,  237. 
Stoneman's  raid  on  Macon  and 
repulse  by  old  men  and  con- 
valescents, 186. 
Stuart,  General  J.  E.  B.,  95,  136. 
Letter  to  General  Wigfall, 
147,  148. 
Stuart's  Horse  Artillery,  125. 
Sumner,  Senator  Charles,  31. 
Sumter,  Fort,  35,  36. 
Battle  of,  38,  46. 

"Tennessee  a  grave  or  a  free 

home,"  214. 
Texas,  4. 

Journey  to  Austin,  4. 


IND  EX — Continued 


*57 


Texas,  prairie  fire,  5. 

Quicksands  in  the  Brazos,  6. 
Village  of  Marshall,  n. 
Fourth  of  July,  12. 
Churches,  15. 

Commencements  and  barbe- 
cues, 18,  19. 
Thompson,  John  R.,  79. 
Tombs,   Senator  Robert,   Geor- 
gia, 30. 
Tournament     at     "Monticello," 

150. 
Tredegar   Iron   Works,   burning 

of,    130. 
Trent  affair,  23. 
Tyler,  Mr.,  35, 

Virginia,  secession  of,  60. 
Von  Spreckelson,  114. 

Walker,    General    W.     H.    T., 

183. 
Walters,  William  T.,  60. 

Letters  from,  62,  64. 
Washington  in  '61,  23. 

Wormley's  in  I  Street,  23. 

Brown's  Hotel,  21. 

Willard's  Hotel,  21. 
Watts,      Governor,       Alabama, 

245-. 
Warwick,       Lieutenant-Colonel, 

82. 
Wigfall,    Louise,     letters     from 
Longwood,  near   Boston, 
57.  60. 
Journey    from    Boston    to 

Confederacy,  62,  66. 
Arrival  in  Richmond,  91. 
Letter  from  Richmond,  130. 
Letter    from    Macon,    Ga., 
preparing  for  the  fall  of 
Atlanta,  178. 
Letter    from    Macon,    Sep- 
tember,   '64,    evacuation 
of  Atlanta,  187. 
Wigfall,   Major  Francis  Halsey, 
Camp  at  Manassas,  October, 

'63.  i53- 
Letter     from     camp     near 

Fredericksburg,  97. 
Letter     from     camp     near 

Culpeper,  112. 


Wigfall,  Major  Francis  Halsey, 

Letter  from  camp  near 
Chesterfield,   114. 

Life  in  camp;  snowball 
fight  between  Texas  and 
Arkansas,   115,   116,   117. 

Letter  just  before  Chancel- 
lors ville,  129. 

Moving  with  the  cavalry, 
Rector's  X  Road,  138. 

Letter  on  the  march  just 
after  Gettysburg,  139. 

Letter  from  camp  near 
Leetown,  144,  145,  146. 

Camp  on  Rappahannock 
River,  152. 

Letter  from  Dalton,  March, 
'64,  sham  battle  Hardee's 
Corps,  174. 

Letter  from  Atlanta  on 
General  Johnston's  re- 
moval,   181. 

Letter  from  Lovejoy's  Sta- 
tion, September  14,  1864, 
188. 

Letter  from  Mrs.  Overton's 
near    Nashville,    Decem- 
ber 5,  '64,  211. 
Wigfall,    Mrs.    Louis    T.,    letter 
from  Washington,  '61,  34. 

Letter  from  Richmond,  34. 

Letter  from  Charleston,  35, 

36,  37- 
Letter     from     Charleston, 

battle    of    Fort   Sumter, 

38,  40. 
Letter    from    Montgomery, 

49.  5°.  51-    . 
Letter  from  Richmond,  54, 

55-  56.  ?3-        ,     . 

Letter  written  during  the 
seven  days'  battle  round 
Richmond,  80,  81,  82,  83. 

Letter  from  Amelia  Springs, 
'62,   98. 

Letter  from  Richmond  on 
death  of  Stonewall  Jack- 
son, 126. 

Letter  from  Richmond  '63, 
128. 

Letter  from  Orange  Court 
House,  137. 


258 


INDEX — Continued 


Wigfall,  Mrs.  Louis  T.,  letter, 
"first  news  from  Gettys- 
burg," July   8,    '63,    140. 

Letter,  "fall  of  Vicksburg," 
July,  '63,  141,  142. 

Letter  from  Charlottesville, 

'63,  143.  J44- 

Letter  from  Charlottesville, 
"nothing  to  eat  and 
nothing  to  wear,"  152. 

Letter  from  Charlottesville, 
November,  '63,  160. 

Crossing  the  Mississippi  un- 
der cover  of  darkness,  in 
"dugouts,"  207.  .1 

Wigfall,  Senator  Louis  Treze- 
vant,  election  to  United 
States  Senate,  20. 

Telegram  to  President  Davis 
and  reply,  36. 

Report  to  Beauregard  of 
surrender  of  Fort  Sumter, 
45- 


Wigfall,    Senator    Louis    Treze 
vant,  commissioned  Brig- 
adier-General,  74. 
Strained  relations  with  Pres- 
ident Davis,  87. 
Letter  to  Secretary  of  War 

Seddon,  100,  101. 
Letter  criticising  President 

Davis's  course,  160. 
Crosses  Mississippi  River  on 

way  to  Texas,  187. 
As  a  paroled  private  soldier 
escapes  arrest  after  sur- 
render of  armies,  and 
parts  from  his  family  at 
Montgomery,  245. 
Wilderness,     battle    of   the, 

176. 
Winchester,  61,  63,  73. 
Winter  quarters,  '61,  74. 

Young,  William  Gourdin,  46. 


